CVE-2019-16469 Scanner

Adobe Experience Manager is a comprehensive content management solution that helps businesses manage and deliver engaging digital experiences across different channels. It is widely used by enterprises for creating, managing, and personalizing their websites, digital assets, and marketing content. With powerful integrations and scalability, Adobe Experience Manager serves as a pivotal tool in digital marketing transformation for organizations. As a platform, it supports various capabilities like content creation, digital asset management, and digital enrollment. It is utilized by companies across various sectors including retail, finance, and media to enhance their user engagement and streamline their digital workflows. Given its importance, any vulnerabilities in Adobe Experience Manager can pose significant risks affecting business operations and data security.

The Expression Language Injection vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager allows attackers to inject expression language into web pages processed by the server. This vulnerability arises when the server side page processes user input unsanitized, which can lead to unauthorized operations. It is classified as a high-severity issue, as it could potentially lead to sensitive information disclosure. The vulnerability can be exploited by sending crafted requests to the server containing malicious expression language code. Upon successful exploitation, attackers might gain access to confidential data stored within the server environment. Its presence in multiple versions of AEM underlines the need for effective mitigation strategies to protect sensitive information.

Technical details of the Expression Language Injection vulnerability involve unsanitized processing of input in Adobe Experience Manager's web applications. The vulnerability manifests at the '/mnt/overlay/dam/gui/content/assets/metadataeditor.external.html' endpoint. Attackers exploit this by injecting crafted payloads in the 'item' parameter to execute arbitrary code. The exploitation hinges on manipulating the template engine's logic through crafted requests, reflecting the unanticipated capabilities into the output. This exploitation route leverages the expression language's ability to evaluate and execute code on the backend server. Effectively, this attack bypasses typical input validation measures, enhancing the attack surface to unauthorized users.

When the Expression Language Injection vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager is exploited, it may lead to unauthorized actions and access by attackers. This can result in sensitive information disclosure, allowing attackers to extract confidential data. It may also provide means to pivot for further attacks on the network due to legitimate user exploitation. Other possible hazardous outcomes include system manipulation leading to potential availability issues or further system exploits. Hence, unchecked exploitation risks could translate into financial, reputational, and operational impacts due to data leaks or defacements.

REFERENCES

• https://nozero.io/en/cve-2019-16469-adobe-aem-expression-language-injection/
• https://owasp.org/www-community/vulnerabilities/Expression_Language_Injection
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16469