CVE-2025-46873 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 user accesses a page containing the injected malicious script, the script executes in their browser context. Because this is a stored XSS, the malicious payload is saved on the server and served to multiple users, increasing the attack's reach. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have some level of privileges to submit data to the vulnerable form fields, but no higher administrative rights are necessary. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is low, as the attacker can execute 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 are linked yet. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which is a common and well-understood web application security issue. Adobe Experience Manager is a widely used enterprise content management system, often deployed in large organizations for managing web content and digital assets. Stored XSS in such a platform can lead to significant risks, including session hijacking, privilege escalation via chained attacks, and reputational damage due to defacement or data leakage.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk, especially for enterprises and public sector entities using Adobe Experience Manager to manage their web presence and digital content. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized actions performed in the context of authenticated users, including administrators or content managers, potentially compromising sensitive business processes or data. The stored nature of the XSS means that multiple users can be affected once the malicious script is injected, amplifying the impact. This could result in data leakage, unauthorized access to internal systems, or manipulation of content displayed to end users. Given the GDPR regulatory environment in Europe, any compromise leading to personal data exposure or unauthorized processing could result in significant legal and financial penalties. Additionally, public-facing government or critical infrastructure websites using AEM could be targeted for defacement or misinformation campaigns, impacting public trust and operational continuity. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation, especially in high-value targets or environments with sensitive data.

1. Immediate mitigation should include reviewing and restricting user privileges to the minimum necessary, limiting the ability of low-privileged users to submit data to vulnerable form fields. 2. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all form fields within Adobe Experience Manager to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 3. Monitor web application logs and user-submitted content for suspicious or anomalous input patterns indicative of attempted XSS injection. 4. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers accessing AEM-managed sites. 5. Segregate administrative and content management interfaces from public-facing components to reduce the attack surface. 6. Stay updated with Adobe’s security advisories and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities, including stored XSS, to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. 8. Educate users and administrators about the risks of XSS and safe browsing practices to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation via social engineering or phishing.