CVE-2022-44465 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) version 6.5.14 and earlier. Reflected XSS occurs when an attacker is able to inject malicious JavaScript code into a web application that is then reflected back to the victim's browser without proper sanitization or encoding. In this case, a low-privileged attacker can craft a malicious URL referencing a vulnerable page within AEM. When a victim clicks this URL, the injected script executes in the context of the victim's browser session. This can lead to theft of session cookies, user impersonation, or execution of arbitrary actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability arises due to insufficient input validation on certain parameters or URL inputs within the affected AEM pages. Since AEM is a widely used enterprise content management system, this vulnerability could be exploited to target users of affected AEM instances, particularly administrators or content authors who have elevated privileges. The attack requires social engineering to convince victims to click the malicious link, but no authentication is required for the initial injection, making it accessible to unauthenticated attackers. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting, and no official patches or mitigations have been linked in the provided data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating a classic reflected XSS scenario. Given the nature of AEM as a web-based content management platform, the vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data, as well as potentially impact availability if leveraged in chained attacks such as session hijacking or defacement.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-44465 can be significant, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager for managing critical web content, digital marketing, or customer engagement platforms. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, including user credentials and session tokens, enabling attackers to impersonate legitimate users or administrators. This could result in data breaches, unauthorized content modifications, or defacement of public-facing websites, damaging brand reputation and customer trust. Additionally, attackers could use the vulnerability as a foothold to launch further attacks such as phishing campaigns or malware distribution by injecting malicious scripts. Given the widespread adoption of AEM among large enterprises, government agencies, and media companies in Europe, the potential scope of impact is broad. The vulnerability's requirement for user interaction (clicking a malicious link) somewhat limits its immediacy but does not diminish the risk, as targeted spear-phishing campaigns could be effective. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests the threat is currently low but could escalate if weaponized. Organizations in sectors with high regulatory scrutiny, such as finance, healthcare, and public administration, may face additional compliance risks if exploited.

Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-controllable inputs within Adobe Experience Manager to prevent injection of malicious scripts. Apply the latest security patches and updates from Adobe as soon as they become available for AEM 6.5.14 and earlier versions. Use Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block reflected XSS attack patterns targeting known vulnerable endpoints in AEM. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities, including reflected XSS, especially on public-facing AEM instances. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking unsolicited or suspicious links, emphasizing phishing awareness to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts within the browser context, mitigating the impact of potential XSS payloads. Review and harden AEM configurations to minimize exposure of vulnerable pages and disable or restrict features that are not in use but could be exploited. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual activity indicative of attempted XSS exploitation or anomalous user behavior.