CVE-2025-47031 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 the affected page containing the malicious payload, the injected script executes in their browser context. This can lead to a range of malicious outcomes including session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user, or the delivery of further malware. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have low privileges within the system and some user interaction (browsing to the affected page) for exploitation. The CVSS 3.1 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 can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches are linked yet. Given Adobe Experience Manager’s role as a content management system widely used by enterprises for managing web content, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and data processed through the affected forms.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager to manage public-facing or internal web portals. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, session hijacking of privileged users, and potential defacement or manipulation of web content. This could damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches under GDPR regulations, and cause operational disruptions. Since AEM is often used by government agencies, financial institutions, and large enterprises in Europe, the risk extends to critical sectors where trust and data integrity are paramount. The stored nature of the XSS means that multiple users can be affected once the malicious script is injected, amplifying the potential damage. While the vulnerability does not directly impact availability, the indirect effects such as loss of user trust and regulatory penalties could be severe.

European organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigation steps: 1) Immediately audit all AEM instances to identify usage of vulnerable versions (6.5.22 and earlier). 2) Apply any available security patches from Adobe as soon as they are released; if patches are not yet available, implement temporary mitigations such as input validation and output encoding on all form fields to prevent script injection. 3) Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns indicative of XSS payloads targeting AEM forms. 4) Conduct thorough security testing and code reviews on custom AEM components or extensions that handle user input. 5) Educate users and administrators about the risks of XSS and encourage vigilance when interacting with web content managed by AEM. 6) Monitor logs and user reports for signs of suspicious activity or potential exploitation attempts. 7) Limit privileges of users who can submit content to reduce the attack surface. These measures, combined with prompt patching, will reduce the risk of exploitation and limit potential damage.