CVE-2025-64565 is a DOM-based Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) versions 6.5.23 and earlier. This vulnerability arises from improper handling of user-controllable input within the Document Object Model (DOM) in the web application, allowing an attacker to inject and execute malicious scripts in the victim's browser context. The attack vector requires a low-privileged attacker to craft a malicious URL or manipulate a web page that a victim must interact with, such as clicking a link or visiting a specially crafted page. The vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity by enabling script execution that can steal session tokens, cookies, or perform actions on behalf of the user. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.4 reflects that the attack requires user interaction (UI:R), low privileges (PR:L), and network access (AV:N), with a scope change (S:C) indicating that the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, and no known exploits in the wild have been reported. However, the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used enterprise content management system poses a significant risk, especially in environments where AEM is used to deliver critical digital services or handle sensitive data. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which is a common and well-understood class of web application security issues. Organizations relying on AEM should monitor for updates from Adobe and apply security best practices to mitigate exploitation risks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-64565 can be significant, particularly for enterprises and public sector entities that rely heavily on Adobe Experience Manager for web content delivery and digital customer engagement. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information such as session cookies, personal data, or internal business information, undermining confidentiality. Attackers could also perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, potentially leading to data integrity issues or unauthorized transactions. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system availability, the reputational damage and loss of user trust resulting from successful attacks could be substantial. Given the requirement for user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to increase the likelihood of exploitation. Additionally, the scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability could impact multiple components or services integrated with AEM, amplifying the potential damage. European organizations subject to GDPR must consider the regulatory implications of data breaches resulting from such vulnerabilities, including potential fines and mandatory breach notifications. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits rapidly after public disclosure.

1. Apply official patches and updates from Adobe as soon as they become available to address CVE-2025-64565. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-controllable inputs within AEM to prevent injection of malicious scripts into the DOM. 3. Deploy and enforce Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of XSS attacks. 4. Educate end users and administrators about the risks of interacting with suspicious URLs or web content, emphasizing caution with unsolicited links. 5. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on web application vulnerabilities, including DOM-based XSS, to identify and remediate weaknesses proactively. 6. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual activity that may indicate attempted exploitation, such as anomalous URL parameters or script injection attempts. 7. Use web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules tailored to detect and block XSS payloads targeting AEM. 8. Limit the privileges of users and services interacting with AEM to reduce the potential impact of compromised sessions. 9. Review and harden the configuration of AEM instances, disabling unnecessary features or components that could increase the attack surface. 10. Prepare incident response plans that include scenarios involving XSS exploitation to ensure rapid containment and remediation.