CVE-2025-46945 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 subsequently accesses a page containing the compromised form field, the malicious script executes in their browser context. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and served to any user who visits the affected page, increasing the attack surface. The vulnerability requires low privileges to exploit but does require user interaction, as the victim must visit the infected page. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, requires privileges, and user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity but not availability. The vulnerability’s scope is changed (S:C), meaning it can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which covers improper neutralization of input leading to XSS attacks. Adobe Experience Manager is widely used by enterprises for content management and digital experience delivery, making this vulnerability relevant for organizations relying on AEM for web content management and customer engagement platforms.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user data and web sessions. Exploitation could lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information such as authentication tokens, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users. This can damage an organization’s reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations if personal data is compromised), and cause operational disruptions. Since AEM is often used by large enterprises, government agencies, and public sector organizations in Europe, the impact can extend to critical infrastructure and services. The stored nature of the XSS means that multiple users can be affected over time, increasing the potential damage. Attackers could also leverage this vulnerability as a foothold for further attacks within the network or to distribute malware. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, exploitation requires some level of user interaction and privileges, somewhat limiting the immediacy of risk but not eliminating it.

Organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Apply security updates from Adobe as soon as they become available to remediate the vulnerability. 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. 4) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities, including XSS. 5) Limit user privileges within AEM to the minimum necessary to reduce the risk of low-privileged attackers exploiting the vulnerability. 6) Educate users to recognize suspicious behavior and avoid interacting with untrusted links or content. 7) Monitor web traffic and logs for unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 8) Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on both immediate patching and layered defenses to reduce attack surface and impact.