CVE-2025-46989 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 (CWE-79) can lead to unauthorized actions such as session hijacking, credential theft, or performing actions on behalf of the victim user. 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 resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. Given that AEM is widely used for enterprise content management and digital experience delivery, exploitation could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data within affected web applications.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be significant, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager for their web content management and digital marketing platforms. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, session hijacking of administrative or user accounts, and potential defacement or manipulation of public-facing websites. This could result in reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations due to data leakage), and financial losses. Since AEM is often integrated with other enterprise systems, the XSS could serve as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to lure victims to the maliciously crafted pages. The medium severity score reflects a moderate risk, but the widespread use of AEM in sectors such as finance, government, and retail across Europe elevates the potential impact.

European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediate review and sanitization of all user input fields in AEM forms, employing strict input validation and output encoding to prevent script injection. 2) Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 3) Monitor and audit web application logs for unusual input patterns or repeated form submissions that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4) Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on untrusted links and the importance of verifying URLs before interaction. 5) Deploy web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM endpoints. 6) Stay alert for official Adobe patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 7) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on XSS vulnerabilities within AEM deployments. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive detection, user awareness, and layered defenses tailored to the AEM environment.