CVE-2022-44468 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), specifically affecting version 6.5.14 and earlier. Reflected XSS vulnerabilities occur when untrusted user input is immediately returned by a web application without proper sanitization or encoding, allowing an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into a URL or request. When a victim clicks on a crafted URL referencing a vulnerable page, the malicious script executes within the victim's browser context. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability requires a low-privileged attacker to convince a victim to visit a maliciously crafted URL, indicating that no authentication is required for exploitation but user interaction is necessary. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input leading to XSS. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no official patches or updates have been linked, suggesting that mitigation relies on configuration changes or updates from Adobe. The vulnerability affects a widely used enterprise content management system, which is often integrated into corporate websites and intranets, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on AEM for digital experience management.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those using Adobe Experience Manager to manage public-facing websites or internal portals. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive user data, including session cookies and authentication tokens, potentially enabling attackers to impersonate users or escalate privileges. This could result in data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance, particularly under GDPR requirements for protecting personal data. Additionally, attackers could use the vulnerability to distribute malware or conduct phishing campaigns by injecting malicious scripts into trusted domains. The reflected nature of the XSS means that attacks require social engineering to lure victims to malicious URLs, but the widespread use of AEM in sectors such as finance, government, and retail in Europe increases the risk profile. The vulnerability could also be leveraged to compromise internal users if AEM is used in intranet environments, potentially facilitating lateral movement within networks.

European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediately assess and inventory all instances of Adobe Experience Manager in use, confirming versions and exposure to the internet. 2) Apply any available Adobe patches or updates as soon as they are released; if no patches are currently available, monitor Adobe security advisories closely. 3) Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules tailored to detect and block reflected XSS attack patterns targeting AEM endpoints, including URL parameter sanitization and script injection attempts. 4) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts within browsers accessing AEM-managed sites. 5) Conduct user awareness training focusing on the risks of clicking on suspicious links, especially those purporting to come from trusted corporate domains. 6) Review and harden input validation and output encoding practices in any custom AEM components or integrations to reduce the attack surface. 7) Monitor web server and application logs for unusual URL requests or error patterns indicative of attempted exploitation. 8) Consider isolating AEM administrative interfaces from public access and enforcing strict access controls and multi-factor authentication for administrative users to reduce risk from lateral attacks.