CVE-2023-22518

Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Improper Authorization Vulnerability

Critical 10.0
Exploited: added to CISA KEV 7 Nov 2023
Used in ransomware campaigns

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.

Key facts

Published: 31 Oct 2023
Last changed: 21 Oct 2025
Assigned by: atlassian
KEV added: 7 Nov 2023
KEV fix due: 28 Nov 2023
Used in ransomware: Yes, according to CISA
EPSS: 99.999% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 99.996% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
SSVC (CISA): Exploitation: active; Automatable: yes; Technical impact: partial

Severity scores

Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.

10.0CVSS 3.0, Criticalfrom the CNA (atlassian)CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

What to do

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.CISA KEV required action

Historical context and remediation

This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.

No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.

Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.

Read the original CVE record.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Versions
Atlassian	Confluence Data Center	< 1.0.0 (unaffected) >= 1.0.0 (affected) >= 7.19.16 (unaffected) >= 8.3.4 (unaffected) >= 8.4.4 (unaffected) >= 8.5.3 (unaffected) >= 8.6.1 (unaffected)
Atlassian	Confluence Server	< 1.0.0 (unaffected) >= 1.0.0 (affected) >= 7.19.16 (unaffected) >= 8.3.4 (unaffected) >= 8.4.4 (unaffected) >= 8.5.3 (unaffected) >= 8.6.1 (unaffected)