CVE-2025-46965 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 a page containing the compromised form field, the malicious script executes in their browser context. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating a classic XSS flaw. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R) is necessary for exploitation. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact affects confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. Stored XSS vulnerabilities in web content management systems like AEM are particularly dangerous because they can affect multiple users and potentially lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users. Given AEM’s role in managing web content for enterprises, exploitation could compromise sensitive corporate data or customer information.

For European organizations using Adobe Experience Manager, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of web applications and their users. Attackers could leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts that steal session tokens, perform unauthorized actions, or deliver further malware payloads. This could lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Since AEM is widely used by large enterprises, government agencies, and public sector organizations in Europe for managing digital content and customer portals, exploitation could disrupt business operations and erode trust. The requirement for low privileges to inject scripts means insider threats or compromised low-level accounts could initiate attacks. Additionally, the need for user interaction implies phishing or social engineering could be used to lure victims to affected pages. The scope change indicates that the impact could extend beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially affecting other parts of the web application ecosystem. Overall, the vulnerability could facilitate targeted attacks against European organizations’ web assets, leading to data leakage and unauthorized access.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediately identify and inventory all instances of Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.22 or earlier in their environment. 2) Apply any available security patches or updates from Adobe as soon as they are released; monitor Adobe security advisories closely. 3) Implement rigorous input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data in AEM forms to prevent script injection. 4) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 5) Conduct thorough security testing, including automated and manual penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities in AEM-managed sites. 6) Restrict privileges for users who can submit content to the minimum necessary to reduce the risk of malicious input. 7) Educate users about phishing risks and safe browsing practices to mitigate the need for user interaction exploitation. 8) Monitor web application logs and user activity for signs of suspicious behavior indicative of XSS exploitation attempts. 9) Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules tuned to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. These steps combined will reduce the attack surface and limit the potential damage from exploitation.