CVE-2025-46844 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in 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 user accesses a page containing the compromised form field, the malicious script executes in their browser context. Stored XSS differs from reflected XSS in that the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server side, making it persistently available to any user who views the affected page. The vulnerability arises due to insufficient input validation and output encoding of user-supplied data in form fields, enabling script injection. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), with an attack vector of network (remote exploitation), low attack complexity, requiring low privileges, and user interaction (victim must visit the malicious page). The scope is changed, indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially impacting other parts of the system. The impact includes limited confidentiality and integrity loss, as the attacker can execute arbitrary scripts in the victim’s browser, potentially stealing session tokens, performing actions on behalf of the user, or defacing content. Availability is not impacted. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. Adobe Experience Manager is widely used by enterprises for content management and digital experience delivery, making this vulnerability significant in environments where AEM is deployed. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could leverage it for phishing, session hijacking, or lateral movement within the victim organization’s web infrastructure.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager for their web content management and digital marketing platforms. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user sessions, theft of sensitive information, and manipulation of website content, undermining user trust and brand reputation. In sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce, where AEM is often used, the confidentiality and integrity of customer and internal data could be compromised. Additionally, regulatory compliance risks arise under GDPR if personal data is exposed or mishandled due to this vulnerability. The persistent nature of stored XSS increases the risk of widespread impact as multiple users may be affected over time. Furthermore, attackers could use this vulnerability as a foothold to conduct further attacks within the network, potentially escalating privileges or deploying malware.

Organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediately audit all AEM instances to identify usage of vulnerable versions (6.5.22 and earlier). 2) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all form fields, especially those accepting user-generated content, to neutralize script injection attempts. 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 4) Monitor web application logs for unusual input patterns or repeated attempts to inject scripts. 5) Educate content authors and administrators about the risks of stored XSS and safe content handling practices. 6) Isolate AEM environments from critical internal networks to limit lateral movement if exploitation occurs. 7) Prepare incident response plans specific to web application attacks involving XSS. 8) Stay alert for Adobe’s official patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 9) Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAF) with rules tailored to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific context of AEM and stored XSS attack vectors.