Overview
On May 13, 2025, Adobe disclosed CVE-2025-43567, a critical reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting its Adobe Connect platform. This issue, categorized under CWE-79, allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript into vulnerable form fields, potentially leading to session hijacking or data theft when executed in the victim’s browser.
Vulnerability Details
The affected product and versions include:
- Product: Adobe Connect
- Versions: 12.8 and earlier
The vulnerability resides in the improper sanitization of user-supplied input in form fields. When a victim clicks a malicious link crafted by an attacker, the injected script executes in their browser. This could result in unauthorized actions being performed in the context of the user’s session, including access to sensitive information or impersonation.
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as Critical and has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.3. The vector string is:
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Key characteristics include:
- Attack Vector: Network
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Privileges Required: None
- User Interaction: Required
- Scope: Changed
- Confidentiality Impact: High
- Integrity Impact: High
- Availability Impact: None
Although the attack requires user interaction (e.g., clicking a link), it can be carried out remotely and does not require authentication. The scope change indicates that the attacker may be able to affect components beyond the vulnerable Adobe Connect instance.
Understanding CWE-79
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities occur when an application includes untrusted data in a web page without proper validation or escaping. In reflected XSS, the malicious script is embedded in a URL and reflected back to the user, triggering execution in their browser. This allows the attacker to steal cookies, impersonate the user, or perform unauthorized actions.
Impact and Exploitation
According to Adobe’s security advisory, successful exploitation could lead to session takeover. This significantly impacts both the confidentiality and integrity of user data, especially in collaborative environments where Adobe Connect is used for meetings, file sharing, and sensitive communication.
Recommendations
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should:
- Update Adobe Connect to the latest patched version.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious or unknown links.
- Use web application firewalls (WAFs) to block XSS attempts.
- Implement proper input validation and output encoding across applications.
Conclusion
CVE-2025-43567 serves as a critical reminder of the risks posed by inadequate input sanitization. While seemingly simple, reflected XSS vulnerabilities can have severe consequences, especially in enterprise environments. Prompt patching and user awareness are essential to minimize exposure.
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