CVE-2025-46881 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) versions 6.5.22 and earlier. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization in certain form fields within AEM, allowing a low-privileged attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that is persistently stored on the server. When a victim user accesses the affected page containing the malicious payload, the injected script executes in their browser context. This type of stored XSS can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, or the delivery of further malware. The vulnerability requires low privileges to exploit but does require user interaction in the form of visiting the compromised page. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, low privileges required, and user interaction needed. The scope is changed, indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable module, potentially impacting confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. Given AEM's role as a content management system widely used by enterprises for web content delivery, exploitation could compromise the integrity of web content and user trust.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager for managing public-facing websites or intranet portals. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized script execution in users' browsers, resulting in data theft, session hijacking, or defacement of corporate websites. This undermines user trust and can lead to reputational damage, regulatory scrutiny under GDPR if personal data is compromised, and potential financial losses. Since AEM is often used by large enterprises, government agencies, and public institutions in Europe, the risk extends to critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, and public administration. The medium severity score suggests that while the vulnerability is not trivially exploitable without user interaction, the potential for impact on confidentiality and integrity is non-negligible. Persistent XSS can also serve as a foothold for further attacks within an organization's network.

European organizations using Adobe Experience Manager should prioritize the following mitigations: 1) Monitor Adobe's official security advisories closely and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available. 2) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within AEM forms to prevent script injection. 3) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 4) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities, including XSS. 5) Educate web content administrators and developers on secure coding practices and the risks of XSS. 6) Use web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules tuned to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. 7) Limit the privileges of users who can input data into vulnerable fields to reduce the attack surface. 8) Monitor web logs for unusual input patterns or suspicious activity indicative of attempted exploitation.