CVE-2025-46842 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) versions 6.5.22 and earlier. This vulnerability allows a low-privileged attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into vulnerable form fields within the AEM interface. When a victim subsequently visits a page containing the compromised form field, the injected script executes in their browser context. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because the malicious payload is saved on the server and served to multiple users, increasing the attack surface and potential impact. The vulnerability requires low privileges to exploit but does require user interaction, as the victim must browse to the affected page. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting the network attack vector, low attack complexity, low privileges required, but requiring user interaction and resulting in limited confidentiality and integrity impact without availability impact. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of user data by enabling script execution that could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigations have been linked yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input leading to script injection. Given AEM's widespread use in enterprise content management and digital experience delivery, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations relying on this platform for their web presence and internal portals.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial. Adobe Experience Manager is widely used by large enterprises, government agencies, and public sector organizations across Europe to manage websites, intranets, and digital assets. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, session hijacking, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks if attackers leverage stolen credentials or session tokens. The stored XSS could also be used to deliver further malware or phishing attacks targeting employees or customers. This could result in reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (especially under GDPR due to potential data breaches), and financial losses. Public sector entities and critical infrastructure operators using AEM for public-facing portals are particularly at risk, as successful attacks could undermine public trust and disrupt essential services. Additionally, the medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it is exploitable with relative ease and should be addressed promptly to prevent escalation or chaining with other vulnerabilities.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediate review and application of any official Adobe patches or security updates once released. 2) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all form fields within AEM to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers accessing AEM content. 4) Conduct thorough security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing, focusing on form inputs and user-generated content areas. 5) Limit user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the risk of low-privileged attackers injecting scripts. 6) Monitor web server and application logs for suspicious activity indicative of XSS exploitation attempts. 7) Educate users and administrators about the risks of XSS and encourage cautious behavior when interacting with web content. 8) Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tuned to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. These measures, combined with timely patching, will reduce the attack surface and mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability.