CVE-2025-47038 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 input, the injected script executes in their browser context. This DOM-based XSS (CWE-79) can lead to the theft of session cookies, user impersonation, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user, or the delivery of further malware payloads. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.4, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), but does require some privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are low, with no impact on availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, and no patches have been linked at the time of publication. Given AEM's role as a content management system widely used by enterprises for web content delivery, this vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise user trust and data confidentiality through client-side attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager to manage public-facing websites or intranet portals. Exploitation could lead to the compromise of user credentials, session hijacking, and unauthorized actions performed under the guise of legitimate users. This can result in data breaches, reputational damage, and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to exposure of personal data. Since AEM is often used by government agencies, financial institutions, and large enterprises in Europe, successful exploitation could disrupt critical services or leak sensitive information. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is not immediately critical, it still poses a tangible risk that could be escalated if combined with other vulnerabilities or social engineering tactics. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to increase attack success rates.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediately identify and inventory all instances of Adobe Experience Manager in use, focusing on versions 6.5.22 and earlier. 2) Monitor Adobe's official security advisories for patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-47038 and apply them promptly once available. 3) Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within AEM forms to prevent script injection, potentially using web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious payloads. 4) Conduct security awareness training for users to recognize and avoid phishing attempts that could trigger the vulnerability. 5) Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 6) Regularly audit and review AEM configurations and custom code for insecure coding practices that could exacerbate XSS risks. 7) Use security scanning tools to detect stored XSS vulnerabilities in web applications. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on both immediate risk reduction and long-term secure development practices specific to AEM deployments.