CVE Alert: CVE-2025-53690 – Sitecore – Experience Manager (XM)

Risk verdict

Critical risk pending exploitation signals: remote code execution is possible over the network with high impact, but current exploitation activity is not observed. If KEV is present or the EPSS score ≥ 0.5, treat as priority 1.

Why this matters

Deserialization of untrusted data enabling code injection can lead to full system compromise, data exposure, and service disruption. In environments that are exposed to the internet or integrated with authentication services, attacker goals include persistent access, data exfiltration, and lateral movement to connected systems.

Most likely attack path

An attacker could exploit over the network without user interaction and without privileges, making initial access straightforward in vulnerable deployments. Pre-conditions include running older major versions and using default or sample configuration keys. Successful exploitation yields total technical impact and can alter or compromise adjacent components due to the changed scope.

Who is most exposed

Organisations with older releases and default sample keys in production or development environments, especially those with AD integration and internet-facing endpoints, are at highest risk.

Detection ideas

• Look for deserialization errors or unusual exceptions in web/application logs.
• Detect anomalous payloads targeting deserialization endpoints.
• Unusual process spawning or code execution indicators after specific requests.
• Increased network traffic to affected endpoints from uncommon sources.
• Key material exposure or reuse indicators in configuration files.

Mitigation and prioritisation

• Apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to supported versions immediately.
• Rotate and harden keys (replace sample keys with unique, securely stored material).
• Restrict/monitor access to affected endpoints; implement WAF rules to block suspicious payloads.
• Validate and harden input handling; remove any default configuration artefacts.
• If KEV is present or EPSS ≥ 0.5, treat as priority 1; coordinate change management and test in staging before production rollout.