CVE-2025-46901 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 platform. When a victim user accesses a page containing the compromised form field, the injected script executes in their browser context. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which pertains to improper neutralization of input during web page generation, leading to XSS. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and low privileges (PR:L), but does require user interaction (UI:R) such as visiting the maliciously crafted page. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact is limited to partial confidentiality and integrity loss (C:L/I:L), with no impact on availability (A:N). Stored XSS is particularly dangerous because the malicious payload persists on the server and can affect multiple users without requiring the attacker to resend the payload. Adobe Experience Manager is widely used by enterprises for content management and digital experience delivery, making this vulnerability a significant risk for organizations relying on AEM for their web presence. Exploitation could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of legitimate users. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the medium CVSS score of 5.4 reflects the moderate risk posed by this vulnerability, especially given the ease of exploitation and potential impact on user trust and data confidentiality.

For European organizations using Adobe Experience Manager, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user data and sessions. Attackers could leverage the stored XSS to execute malicious scripts that steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to phishing sites. This could lead to data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance, particularly under GDPR which mandates protection of personal data. Since AEM is often used to manage customer-facing websites and internal portals, the impact could extend to both external customers and internal employees. The persistence of the malicious payload increases the risk of widespread compromise if not promptly addressed. Additionally, the requirement for user interaction means social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to lure victims to vulnerable pages. The medium severity suggests that while the vulnerability is not critical, it still requires timely remediation to prevent exploitation and potential cascading effects on business operations and customer trust.

1. Immediate patching: Organizations should monitor Adobe’s official channels for patches addressing CVE-2025-46901 and apply them as soon as they become available. 2. Input validation and sanitization: Implement strict server-side input validation and output encoding on all form fields to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 3. Content Security Policy (CSP): Deploy a robust CSP to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 4. User awareness: Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links and visiting untrusted pages, as user interaction is required for exploitation. 5. Web Application Firewall (WAF): Configure WAF rules to detect and block common XSS payloads targeting AEM forms. 6. Regular security assessments: Conduct periodic vulnerability scans and penetration testing focused on web application security to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. 7. Monitoring and logging: Enable detailed logging and monitor for unusual activities indicative of XSS exploitation attempts, such as unexpected script execution or anomalous user behavior.