CVE-2025-46974 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, 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 vulnerable form field, the malicious script executes in their browser context. This is a DOM-based XSS, meaning the attack payload manipulates the Document Object Model on the client side, potentially bypassing some traditional server-side filters. The vulnerability requires low privileges to exploit but does require user interaction (the victim must visit the compromised page). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, but user interaction needed, and impacts on confidentiality and integrity but not availability. The vulnerability has a scope change (S:C), indicating that the exploit can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. Adobe Experience Manager is a widely used enterprise content management system, often deployed in large organizations for managing web content and digital assets, making this vulnerability significant for organizations relying on AEM for public-facing or internal portals.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for those using Adobe Experience Manager to manage websites, intranets, or customer portals. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, or unauthorized actions performed in the context of the victim user. This could compromise user data confidentiality and integrity, damage organizational reputation, and potentially lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is exposed. Since AEM is often integrated with other enterprise systems, the XSS vulnerability could serve as a pivot point for further attacks or social engineering campaigns. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to lure victims to vulnerable pages. Given the medium severity and the widespread use of AEM in sectors like government, finance, and retail across Europe, the threat is relevant and should be addressed promptly to avoid exploitation.

1. Immediate mitigation should include reviewing and sanitizing all user inputs in vulnerable form fields within Adobe Experience Manager to prevent script injection. 2. Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected web pages. 3. Conduct thorough code reviews and penetration testing focusing on DOM-based XSS vectors in AEM deployments. 4. Monitor web traffic and logs for unusual script injections or anomalous user behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on untrusted links that might lead to vulnerable pages. 6. Apply any forthcoming official patches from Adobe as soon as they become available. 7. If patching is delayed, consider temporary workarounds such as disabling or restricting access to vulnerable form fields or pages. 8. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) with updated signatures to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. 9. Regularly update and maintain AEM instances to the latest supported versions to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities.