CVE-2025-49534 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) versions 11.4 and earlier. This vulnerability allows a low-privileged attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into vulnerable form fields within the AEM platform. When a victim user accesses a page containing the compromised form field, the injected script executes in their browser context. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input leading to script injection. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N, meaning the attack can be launched remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges, and user interaction is necessary for exploitation. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity by potentially allowing theft of session tokens, user credentials, or manipulation of displayed content, but does not affect availability. The scope is changed, indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable module, potentially increasing the impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in content management systems like AEM because they can persistently affect multiple users and can be leveraged for phishing, session hijacking, or further exploitation within the affected environment.

For European organizations using Adobe Experience Manager, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to web application security and user trust. AEM is widely used by enterprises and public sector organizations across Europe for managing digital content and customer experiences. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, including personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The ability to execute malicious scripts in users' browsers can facilitate targeted phishing attacks, credential theft, and unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users. Given the scope change, the vulnerability might affect multiple components or modules, increasing the attack surface. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and e-commerce, which rely heavily on AEM for customer-facing portals, are particularly at risk. The requirement for low privileges to exploit and the need for user interaction means attackers could leverage social engineering to maximize impact. Although no active exploits are reported, the medium CVSS score and the nature of stored XSS warrant prompt attention to prevent potential future attacks.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediate review and hardening of input validation and output encoding mechanisms in all AEM form fields to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 2) Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in browsers. 3) Conduct thorough security testing, including automated and manual penetration testing focused on XSS vectors within AEM environments. 4) Monitor web application logs and user reports for suspicious activities indicative of XSS exploitation attempts. 5) Educate users and administrators about the risks of clicking on untrusted links or submitting unverified content. 6) Stay alert for official Adobe patches or security advisories and apply updates promptly once available. 7) Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules specifically designed to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. 8) Limit privileges of users who can submit content to reduce the risk of low-privileged attackers exploiting this vulnerability. 9) Review and tighten authentication and session management controls to minimize the impact of potential session hijacking. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on both technical controls and user awareness tailored to the specific context of AEM deployments.