What are the security implications if "anonymous" user has write access enabled in /content

[ateek_khan]

Hi,

According to Adobe's official Dispatcher security checklist (Configuring Dispatcher ) anonymous user should not be able to write data to the node. I would like to know what are the security implications of this behavior and how could this be exploited by attackers and or cause harm to the affected aem instance.

Would appreciate your input on this!

Thanks!

[aanchal-sikka · Accepted solution]

Preventing anonymous users from writing data to nodes in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Dispatcher is a security best practice that helps mitigate the risk of unauthorized modifications to content. Here are the security implications and potential risks associated with allowing anonymous users to write data, as well as how this behavior could be exploited:

Security Implications:

1. Unauthorized Content Modification:

   • Allowing anonymous users to write data to nodes could lead to unauthorized modifications to the content structure, which may result in incorrect or malicious information being stored in the repository.

2. Content Injection Attacks:

   • Attackers may attempt to inject malicious content into the AEM repository. This could include injecting scripts or content that could be harmful when rendered on the website.

3. Data Integrity Risks:

   • Unauthorized write access poses risks to data integrity. Changes made by unauthorized users could impact the consistency and reliability of the stored information.

4. Configuration Tampering:

   • If anonymous users can write to configuration nodes, there is a risk of tampering with AEM configurations, potentially leading to service disruptions or vulnerabilities.

5. Exploiting Weak Access Controls:

   • Allowing anonymous write access may indicate weak access controls and misconfigurations, providing attackers with an opportunity to exploit security vulnerabilities.