CVE-2025-46976 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 the AEM platform, 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. This DOM-based XSS attack can lead to unauthorized actions such as session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized manipulation of the web application interface. The vulnerability requires low privileges to exploit but does require user interaction, as the victim must visit the affected 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 (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component, 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 the widespread use of Adobe Experience Manager in enterprise content management and digital experience platforms, this vulnerability poses a significant risk if exploited, especially in environments where untrusted users can submit content or interact with forms.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager for managing public-facing websites, intranets, or customer portals. Exploitation could lead to the compromise of user sessions, leakage of sensitive information, and unauthorized actions performed on behalf of legitimate users. This could result in reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (notably under GDPR if personal data is exposed), and potential financial losses. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce, which often use AEM for digital content delivery, are particularly at risk. The vulnerability's ability to affect confidentiality and integrity without requiring high privileges makes it attractive for attackers aiming to escalate access or conduct phishing campaigns leveraging trusted domains. Additionally, the persistent nature of stored XSS increases the risk of widespread impact across multiple users.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately review and restrict user input on all forms within Adobe Experience Manager, applying strict input validation and output encoding to prevent script injection. 2) Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of untrusted scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. 3) Monitor web application logs for unusual input patterns or repeated attempts to inject scripts. 4) Limit the privileges of users who can submit content to trusted personnel only, reducing the attack surface. 5) Stay alert for official Adobe security advisories and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available. 6) Conduct security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities in AEM deployments. 7) Educate users and administrators about the risks of XSS and the importance of cautious interaction with web content. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive input handling, privilege management, and layered defenses specific to AEM environments.