CVE-2025-64553 is a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), specifically affecting versions 6.5.23 and earlier. Stored XSS vulnerabilities occur when malicious scripts injected by an attacker are permanently stored on the target server, such as within form fields or databases, and later executed in the browsers of users who access the affected content. In this case, a low-privileged attacker can exploit vulnerable form fields within AEM to inject malicious JavaScript code. When a victim user visits a page containing the compromised form field, the injected script executes in their browser context. This can lead to theft of session cookies, user credentials, or manipulation of the webpage content, impacting confidentiality and integrity. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.4, indicating medium severity. The vector metrics indicate the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact metrics show partial loss of confidentiality (C:L) and integrity (I:L), with no impact on availability (A:N). No public exploits are known at this time, but the vulnerability poses a risk to organizations using AEM for content management, especially those exposing user input forms on public-facing websites. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which is a common and well-understood class of web application security issues. Adobe has not yet released a patch, so mitigation currently relies on input validation, output encoding, and security headers.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for those relying on Adobe Experience Manager to manage public-facing websites or intranet portals. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the browsers of users, potentially leading to session hijacking, theft of sensitive information, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of legitimate users. This could result in data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory non-compliance, especially under GDPR where personal data exposure is involved. The medium severity score reflects that while the vulnerability does not directly affect system availability, it compromises confidentiality and integrity to a moderate extent. Organizations with high user interaction on their AEM-managed sites are at greater risk. Additionally, the changed scope indicates that the impact could extend beyond the immediate vulnerable component, potentially affecting other integrated systems or services. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details are widely known.

1. Monitor Adobe's official channels closely for the release of security patches addressing CVE-2025-64553 and apply them promptly once available. 2. Implement strict input validation and output encoding on all user-supplied data within AEM forms to prevent injection of malicious scripts. 3. Deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. 4. Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews focused on input handling in AEM components. 5. Limit user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the attack surface, ensuring that only trusted users can submit data to vulnerable forms. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of XSS and encourage vigilance regarding suspicious activity. 7. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tuned to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. 8. Review and harden session management mechanisms to mitigate session hijacking risks if exploitation occurs. 9. Isolate critical AEM instances and sensitive data to minimize lateral movement in case of compromise. 10. Maintain comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts early.