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How CVE-2025-46840 Works
CVE-2025-46840 is an Improper Authorization flaw in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) versions 6.5.22 and earlier. The vulnerability allows low-privileged attackers to bypass authorization checks via crafted requests, leading to privilege escalation. Attackers exploit improper session validation in AEM’s authentication module, manipulating HTTP headers or cookies to impersonate higher-privileged users. Successful exploitation requires user interaction, such as tricking an admin into clicking a malicious link. Once exploited, attackers gain elevated permissions, enabling session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized content modifications. The CVSS 4.0 score reflects high confidentiality/integrity impacts due to the potential for full system compromise.
DailyCVE Form
Platform: Adobe Experience Manager
Version: ≤ 6.5.22
Vulnerability: Improper Authorization
Severity: Critical
Date: 06/13/2025
Prediction: Patch expected by 07/15/2025
What Undercode Say:
Exploitation Analysis
1. Exploit Command (PoC):
curl -X GET "http://target-aem-instance/content" -H "Cookie: forged-session-token=admin"
2. Malicious Payload:
GET /libs/granite/core/content/login.html HTTP/1.1 Host: vulnerable-aem X-Forwarded-User: admin
Protection Measures
1. Interim Mitigation:
<Location "/content"> Require valid-user AuthType SSO </Location>
2. WAF Rule (ModSecurity):
SecRule REQUEST_HEADERS:X-Forwarded-User "@rx admin" "deny,log,id:1001"
3. Patch Verification:
aemcli --version | grep "6.5.23"
4. Log Monitoring:
grep "invalid session token" /var/log/aem/error.log
5. Splunk Query for Detection:
index=aem_logs sourcetype=aem_access (X-Forwarded-User= OR Cookie=admin)
6. AEM OSGi Config Fix:
@Property(name = "auth.enforce.roles", value = {"admin"})
7. Disable Vulnerable Endpoint (if unused):
curl -u admin:password -X DELETE "http://localhost:4502/system/console/configMgr/com.adobe.granite.auth.requirement"
8. Network Isolation:
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 4502 -s trusted-ip -j ACCEPT
9. SELinux Policy Update:
audit2allow -a -M aem_fix < /var/log/audit/audit.log
10. Post-Patch Validation:
openssl s_client -connect aem-instance:443 | grep "TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384"
Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
