CVE-2025-49533: Adobe Experience Manager RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-49533 Overview

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) versions 6.5.23.0 and earlier are affected by a Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability (CWE-502) that could lead to arbitrary code execution by an attacker. This critical vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where AEM is commonly deployed for content management.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable Adobe Experience Manager installations without user interaction, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.23.0 and earlier
• Adobe Experience Manager (MS) deployments
• All AEM Forms installations running vulnerable versions

Discovery Timeline

• July 8, 2025 - CVE-2025-49533 published to NVD
• July 18, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49533

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper handling of serialized data within Adobe Experience Manager. When the application deserializes untrusted data from an external source, it fails to adequately validate the incoming object stream before instantiation. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious serialized object that, when processed by the vulnerable AEM instance, triggers arbitrary code execution.

The vulnerability is network-accessible and requires no privileges or user interaction to exploit successfully. This means attackers can target vulnerable AEM instances directly over the network, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-49533 is the unsafe deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502). Java-based applications like Adobe Experience Manager often use object serialization for data persistence and network communication. When deserialization is performed on attacker-controlled data without proper validation, malicious objects can be instantiated that execute arbitrary code during the deserialization process.

In this case, AEM does not adequately restrict which classes can be deserialized, allowing attackers to leverage known "gadget chains" — sequences of existing library classes that, when combined, achieve code execution during deserialization.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation without authentication. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted serialized Java objects to the vulnerable AEM endpoint. The attack flow typically involves:

1. Identifying a vulnerable AEM instance exposed to the network
2. Crafting a malicious serialized payload using known deserialization gadget chains
3. Sending the payload to the target endpoint that processes serialized data
4. The AEM server deserializes the payload, triggering the embedded code execution
5. The attacker gains code execution with the privileges of the AEM application

Since no authentication is required, any internet-exposed AEM instance running version 6.5.23.0 or earlier is potentially at risk. For detailed technical information, refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-67.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49533

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual Java process behavior or unexpected child processes spawned by the AEM application
• Network connections from AEM servers to unexpected external IP addresses
• Suspicious serialized object payloads in HTTP request bodies or other network traffic
• Anomalous file system activity in AEM installation directories
• Log entries indicating deserialization errors or unexpected class loading

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for serialized Java objects containing known gadget chain classes (e.g., Apache Commons Collections, Spring framework gadgets)
• Implement application-level logging to capture deserialization events and class names being instantiated
• Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify common deserialization exploit patterns in network payloads
• Review AEM access logs for unusual request patterns to endpoints that handle serialized data

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for AEM deserialization operations to detect exploitation attempts
• Configure SIEM alerts for process execution anomalies on AEM servers
• Monitor for outbound connections from AEM instances that may indicate successful exploitation
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical AEM directories and configuration files

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49533

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Adobe Experience Manager to a patched version as specified in the Adobe security advisory
• Restrict network access to AEM instances by placing them behind web application firewalls and limiting exposure
• Implement network segmentation to isolate AEM servers from critical infrastructure
• Review and audit all external-facing AEM endpoints for unnecessary exposure

Patch Information

Adobe has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-67 for specific patch details and upgrade instructions. Apply the latest security patches to all affected AEM installations as the primary remediation measure.

Workarounds

• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with rules to filter serialized Java object payloads
• Implement deserialization filters using Java's built-in ObjectInputFilter mechanism to restrict deserializable classes
• Disable or restrict access to endpoints that accept serialized data until patching is complete
• Use network-level controls to limit which systems can communicate with AEM instances

# Example: Restricting access to AEM instance using iptables
# Allow access only from trusted internal networks
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 4502 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 4503 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 4502 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 4503 -j DROP