CVE-2023-22515 Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Broken Access Control

Exploited in the wild Critical 10.0 Published 4 Oct 2023 Updated 25 Mar 2026

External attackers can create unauthorized administrator accounts and access Confluence Data Center or Server instances.

Exploited in the wild: Since 5 Oct 2023
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2023-22515?

CVE-2023-22515 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Atlassian Confluence Data Center, published on 4 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

Atlassian has been made aware of an issue reported by a handful of customers where external attackers may have exploited a previously unknown vulnerability in publicly accessible Confluence Data Center and Server instances to create unauthorized Confluence administrator accounts and access Confluence instances. 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.

Weakness: CWE-20

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-22515?

It affects 2 products.

Products include Atlassian Confluence Data Center, Atlassian Confluence Server.

How do I fix CVE-2023-22515?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-22515 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 13 Oct 2023.

Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.

Is CVE-2023-22515 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-22515 in the wild since at least 5 Oct 2023, including in ransomware campaigns.

Public exploit code: 2 Metasploit modules, 1 Nuclei template and 31 proofs of concept on GitHub.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-g458-xvmc-qg2r.