CVE-2023-48444 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article delves into the details of CVE-2023-48444, a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and earlier.

Understanding CVE-2023-48444

This section explores the nature of the vulnerability and its impact on affected systems.

What is CVE-2023-48444?

Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.18 and prior are susceptible to a stored XSS vulnerability that enables a malicious attacker with low privileges to inject harmful scripts into vulnerable form fields. This could lead to the execution of malicious JavaScript in victims' browsers when accessing the compromised page.

The Impact of CVE-2023-48444

The vulnerability poses a medium-severity risk with a CVSS base score of 5.4. Attackers could exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code in victims' browsers, potentially compromising sensitive information and user interactions.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-48444

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation methods.

Vulnerability Description

The stored XSS vulnerability occurs in resource

libs/mcm/campaign/components/reference/reference.jsp

within Adobe Experience Manager. Attackers can abuse this weakness to inject and execute malicious scripts in the context of the target user's session.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Adobe Experience Manager versions equal to or earlier than 6.5.18. Organizations using these versions are at risk of exploitation by threat actors leveraging this flaw.

Exploitation Mechanism

By injecting specially crafted payloads into vulnerable form fields, attackers can trigger the execution of malicious scripts directly in users' browsers, circumventing security controls.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines steps to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2023-48444 and enhance overall system security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately update to the latest patched version of Adobe Experience Manager to eliminate the vulnerability. Organizations should also sanitize user inputs to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforce secure coding practices, conduct regular security audits, and educate developers and administrators on identifying and addressing XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Adobe and promptly apply security patches and updates to safeguard your systems against known vulnerabilities.