The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a critical alert regarding a severe code execution vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager Forms, urging organizations to patch immediately.
Tracked as CVE-2025-54253, this flaw affects the Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) version of the software and enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.
First disclosed by Adobe in early October 2025, the vulnerability has already been exploited in the wild, according to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.
Adobe Experience Manager Forms is a popular platform for creating and managing digital forms in enterprise environments, often used by businesses for customer interactions and document processing.
The unspecified nature of the vulnerability rated with a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10 makes it particularly dangerous, as it requires no user interaction or authentication to trigger.
Attackers can leverage it to gain full control over affected servers, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or further network compromise.
Exploitation and Real-World Impact
Reports indicate that threat actors have begun weaponizing CVE-2025-54253 in targeted attacks, though it’s unclear if ransomware groups are involved at this stage.
Security researchers from firms like Mandiant have observed exploitation attempts against unpatched instances hosted in cloud environments, where misconfigurations amplify the risk.
One notable incident involved a mid-sized financial services firm in Europe, where attackers used the flaw to deploy malware, resulting in a temporary service outage and data exfiltration.
CISA added the CVE to its catalog on October 15, 2025, emphasizing that federal agencies must apply mitigations by November 14 or discontinue use of the product.
This aligns with Binding Operational Directive 22-01, which mandates rapid response to actively exploited flaws in federal systems. Private sector organizations are also at high risk, especially those relying on Adobe’s suite for web content management.
Adobe has released patches for affected versions, including AEM Forms 6.5.13 and earlier. Users should apply updates promptly, enable multi-factor authentication, and segment networks to limit lateral movement.
For cloud deployments, following BOD 22-01 guidance is essential, including regular vulnerability scanning. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges in supply chain security, as Adobe products are integral to many digital ecosystems.
With exploitation confirmed, experts warn of potential escalation if patches lag. Organizations should prioritize auditing their AEM deployments to stay ahead of evolving threats.
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