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Findings

CVE-2023-22518

Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Improper Authorization Vulnerability

Published Oct 31, 2023 · corrected/updated Jun 16, 2026 · atlassian confluence data center · evidence confidence very high

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.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2023-22518 is a critical public vulnerability record for atlassian confluence data center. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether atlassian confluence data center is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: atlassian/confluence data center; atlassian/confluence data center (8.6.0); atlassian/confluence server; Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server. Published remediation guidance: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 9.8, EPSS 100.0%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Weakness classes: CWE-863. Sources contributing to this record: cisa_kev, cve_org, epss, metasploit. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Confirmed in CISA KEV since Nov 7, 2023. Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

  • Patch and remediation

    Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. CISA due date Nov 28, 2023.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Oct 31, 2023 · Catalog

    Detected

    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

  2. Nov 7, 2023 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

  3. Nov 28, 2023 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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

Affected

  • cpe atlassian/confluence data centerversion unspecified
  • cpe atlassian/confluence data center8.6.0
  • cpe atlassian/confluence serverversion unspecified
  • vendor Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Serverversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2023-22518

    Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server contain an improper authorization vulnerability that can result in significant data loss when exploited by an unauthenticated attacker. There is no impact on confidentiality since the attacker cannot exfiltrate any data.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2023-22518

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2023-22518

    30-day exploitation probability 100.0%

    first.org
  • Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_multi/http/atlassian_confluence_unauth_backup

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2023-22518

    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 attack

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176264/Atlassian-Confluence-Improper-Authorization-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com

References