CVE-2025-54253
Adobe Experience Manager Forms Code Execution Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2025-54253 is a maximum-severity misconfiguration vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Forms versions 6.5.23 and earlier, achieving the highest possible CVSS v3.1 base score of 10.0. The flaw involves incorrect authorization that allows an unauthenticated attacker to bypass security mechanisms and execute arbitrary code, with a changed scope meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component itself. With an EPSS score of 44.1% (97.5th percentile) and inclusion in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of November 5, 2025, this vulnerability demands immediate attention from all organizations using AEM Forms.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | experience manager forms | <= 6.5.23.0 |
References
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/aem-forms/apsb25-82.html(Vendor Advisory)
- https://slcyber.io/assetnote-security-research-center/struts-devmode-in-2025-critical-pre-auth-vulnerabilities-in-adobe-experience-manager-forms/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-54253(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
CWE-863 describes a weakness where software performs an authorization check but does so incorrectly, allowing actions or access that should be denied. In CVE-2025-54253, the Adobe Experience Manager Forms application incorrectly authorizes requests, enabling an unauthenticated attacker to bypass security controls and execute code. Unlike a complete absence of authorization (CWE-862), incorrect authorization implies that checks exist but are implemented with logical flaws that can be circumvented.
Impact Analysis
The business impact of CVE-2025-54253 is the most severe possible, reflected in its perfect CVSS score of 10.0. Confidentiality impact is high and extends beyond the vulnerable component (Scope: Changed), meaning an attacker can access sensitive data not only within AEM Forms but potentially in other systems and services accessible from the compromised server. Integrity impact is high with changed scope, enabling the attacker to modify data, inject content, and alter configurations across system boundaries. Availability impact is also high with changed scope, allowing the attacker to disrupt not just AEM Forms but connected systems and services.
The EPSS score of 44.1% (97.5th percentile) places this vulnerability among the most likely to be exploited. Adobe Experience Manager is widely deployed in large enterprises for managing digital experiences, forms processing, and document workflows. AEM Forms specifically handles sensitive business processes including customer-facing forms, document generation, and workflow automation. Compromise of an AEM Forms server could expose personally identifiable information collected through forms, disrupt business processes, and provide a pivot point into the broader enterprise network. The ransomware association is listed as unknown, but the combination of unauthenticated remote code execution with changed scope makes this an extraordinarily high-value target for any threat actor.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2025-54253 has confirmed active exploitation and is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with an earlier-than-usual remediation deadline of November 5, 2025, reflecting the severity of the threat. The EPSS score of 44.1% (97.5th percentile) indicates very high exploitation probability. Security research by SL Cyber (Assetnote) has published a detailed technical analysis describing pre-authentication vulnerabilities in AEM Forms related to Struts DevMode, providing insight into the attack mechanism. The ransomware usage status is unknown, but the maximum CVSS score and availability of detailed exploit research indicate a very mature threat landscape for this vulnerability.
Remediation
- Apply the Adobe security patch for AEM Forms immediately. Refer to Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-82 and install the update that addresses versions 6.5.23 and earlier. This patch should be treated as the highest priority given the CVSS 10.0 score.
- Restrict network access to AEM Forms servers. Place AEM Forms behind a reverse proxy or web application firewall and limit access to only authorized users and systems. Remove any direct internet exposure of AEM Forms instances.
- Audit AEM Forms servers for indicators of compromise. Review application logs, operating system logs, and network traffic for signs of unauthorized code execution, unexpected processes, file modifications, or lateral movement originating from the AEM Forms server.
- Review and harden AEM Forms configuration. Ensure that DevMode and other debugging features are disabled in production environments. Audit authorization configurations to verify that security controls are properly enforced.
- Implement network monitoring for AEM Forms traffic. Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify exploitation attempts targeting AEM Forms, particularly requests that attempt to bypass authorization controls or trigger code execution through misconfiguration abuse.
Technical Details
The CVSS v3.1 base score for CVE-2025-54253 is 10.0 (Critical) with the vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. This is the maximum possible CVSS score. Attack Vector (AV:N) confirms remote exploitation over the network. Attack Complexity (AC:L) means the attack is straightforward. Privileges Required (PR:N) means no authentication is needed, and User Interaction (UI:N) means no victim action is required. Critically, Scope (S:C) is changed, meaning the vulnerability in AEM Forms can be used to impact resources beyond the vulnerable component itself, such as the underlying operating system or other applications. All three impact metrics — Confidentiality (C:H), Integrity (I:H), and Availability (A:H) — are rated high within the changed scope context.
The attack mechanism exploits an incorrect authorization (misconfiguration) vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager Forms. Research published by SL Cyber indicates the vulnerability is related to Struts DevMode functionality being accessible in production AEM Forms deployments. Struts DevMode exposes powerful debugging and code execution capabilities that are intended only for development environments. The incorrect authorization allows an unauthenticated attacker to access these DevMode features, which in turn enables arbitrary code execution on the server. The changed scope rating reflects that once code execution is achieved through AEM Forms, the attacker can pivot to affect the host operating system and other services running on the same infrastructure. The combination of zero authentication requirements and code execution with changed scope produces the maximum CVSS score of 10.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2025-54253?
CVE-2025-54253 is a maximum-severity (CVSS 10.0) vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager Forms versions 6.5.23 and earlier. It involves incorrect authorization that allows an unauthenticated attacker to bypass security mechanisms and execute arbitrary code, with impacts extending beyond the AEM Forms application itself.
Why does CVE-2025-54253 have a CVSS score of 10.0?
The maximum score results from the combination of network-accessible attack vector, no authentication required, no user interaction needed, changed scope (impact extends beyond the vulnerable component), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Every metric is rated at its worst possible value.
Is CVE-2025-54253 related to Apache Struts?
Security research indicates the vulnerability is related to Struts DevMode functionality being accessible in production AEM Forms deployments. AEM Forms uses Apache Struts internally, and the misconfiguration allows unauthorized access to DevMode features that enable code execution.
How quickly should I patch CVE-2025-54253?
Immediately. CISA has set a remediation deadline of November 5, 2025, which is earlier than many other KEV entries, reflecting the exceptional severity. With a CVSS of 10.0, active exploitation confirmed, and detailed exploit research publicly available, this should be the highest priority patch for any organization running AEM Forms.
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