CVE-2021-43761 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe Experience Manager Stored XSS on Edit Tag page via Localization input

Understanding CVE-2021-43761

What is CVE-2021-43761?

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) versions 6.5.7.0 and below, 6.4.8.3 and below, and 6.3.3.8 and below, including the Cloud Service offering, are vulnerable to stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. Attackers can exploit this flaw to inject malicious scripts into vulnerable form fields, leading to the execution of malicious JavaScript in victims' browsers.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43761

This vulnerability poses a high risk with a CVSS base score of 8, allowing attackers to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43761

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability resides in AEM's Cloud Service and specific versions, enabling attackers to conduct stored XSS attacks by injecting malicious scripts into form fields.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe Experience Manager Cloud Service offering
Versions 6.5.7.0 and below
Versions 6.4.8.3 and below
Versions 6.3.3.8 and below

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can abuse this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into vulnerable form fields, triggering the execution of malicious JavaScript in victims' browsers.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary security patches provided by Adobe to address the vulnerability promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.
Educate users on identifying and avoiding suspicious links or content.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Adobe Experience Manager to the latest secure versions.
Implement a robust web application firewall to mitigate XSS attacks effectively.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released security patches to fix the vulnerability in affected versions of Adobe Experience Manager.