CVE Alert: CVE-2025-54253 – Adobe – Adobe Experience Manager

Risk verdict

Critical, remote pre-authentification code execution with active exploitation against Adobe Experience Manager; urgent containment and patching required.

Why this matters

Allows attackers to bypass security controls and run arbitrary code without user interaction, potentially compromising the entire server and adjacent services. In enterprise deployments, internet-facing AEM instances are high-value targets for data theft, credential access, and persistence.

Most likely attack path

Exploitation over the network without credentials and with low attack complexity; no user interaction required. The misconfiguration could enable an attacker to execute arbitrary code and, given the changed scope, extend impact beyond the AEM component to connected assets or servers, enabling lateral movement and potential full system compromise.

Who is most exposed

Organisations running affected AEM versions (<= 6.5.23) with public-facing forms or admin interfaces, especially in large enterprises or regulated sectors hosting content management on internet-accessible endpoints.

Detection ideas

• Unusual, unauthenticated requests targeting AEM endpoints or admin/OSGi interfaces.
• Rapid, repeated pre-auth attempts leading to successful RCE-like responses.
• Anomalous process spawns or outbound connections from the AEM host.
• Abnormal payloads or HTTP methods to form-related services not aligning with normal workload.
• WAF/IDS alerts for suspicious patterns against AEM forms or OSGi-related paths.

Mitigation and prioritisation

• Apply vendor patch quickly; move to a fixed version or apply recommended hotfix per advisory.
• Disable or tightly restrict exposed endpoints (admin/forms), implement IP allowlists, and enforce least privilege.
• Implement compensating controls: strong input validation, WAF rules targeting anomalous payloads, and continuous monitoring for RCE indicators.
• Validate backups and test changes in staging before deployment; coordinate downtime if needed.
• If KEV true or EPSS ≥ 0.5 is established, elevate to immediate priority and accelerate remediation.