CVE-2023-22518
Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Improper Authorization Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 28 November 2023). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
All versions of Confluence Data Center and Server are affected by this unexploited vulnerability. This Improper Authorization vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to reset Confluence and create a Confluence instance administrator account. Using this account, an attacker can then perform all administrative actions that are available to Confluence instance administrator leading to - but not limited to - full loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability. Atlassian Cloud sites are not affected by this vulnerability. If your Confluence site is accessed via an atlassian.net domain, it is hosted by Atlassian and is not vulnerable to this issue.
- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 100.00% probability · 100th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Listed 7 November 2023 · due 28 November 2023 · used in ransomware campaigns
- Weakness
- CWE-863
- Affected
- atlassian/confluence data center · atlassian/confluence server
- Source
- security@atlassian.com
EPSS 100.0% since 30 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. https://confluence.atlassian.com/security/cve-2023-22518-improper-authorization-vulnerability-in-confluence-data-center-and-server-1311473907.html; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22518
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176264/Atlassian-Confluence-Improper-Authorization-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://confluence.atlassian.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1311473907Issue Tracking, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONFSERVER-93142Issue Tracking, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176264/Atlassian-Confluence-Improper-Authorization-Code-Execution.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://confluence.atlassian.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1311473907Issue Tracking, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONFSERVER-93142Issue Tracking, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-22518US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.