# CVE-2023-22518: Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Improper Authorization

> Unauthenticated attackers can reset Confluence and create an administrator account, leading to full system compromise.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 7 Nov 2023 (CISA KEV), used in ransomware
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 31 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8prx-84h6-4fr5

## What is CVE-2023-22518?

CVE-2023-22518 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Atlassian Confluence Data Center, published on 31 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official 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.

Weakness: CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-22518?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Atlassian Confluence Data Center, Atlassian Confluence Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-22518?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-22518 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 28 Nov 2023.

## Is CVE-2023-22518 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-22518 in the wild since at least 7 Nov 2023, including in ransomware campaigns.

Public exploit code:

- Improper Authorization Vulnerability in Confluence Data Center and Server (github_poc): https://github.com/ForceFledgling/CVE-2023-22518
- An Exploitation tool to exploit the confluence server that are vulnerable to CVE-2023-22518 Improper Authorization (github_poc): https://github.com/RevoltSecurities/CVE-2023-22518
- Checker for CVE-2023-22518 vulnerability on Confluence (github_poc): https://github.com/davidfortytwo/CVE-2023-22518
- Exploit CVE-2023-22518 (github_poc): https://github.com/0x0d3ad/CVE-2023-22518
- Lỗ hổng ủy quyền không phù hợp trong Trung tâm dữ liệu Confluence và Máy chủ + bugsBonus 🔥 (github_poc): https://github.com/bibo318/CVE-2023-22518
- https://github.com/Lilly-dox/Exploit-CVE-2023-22518 (github_poc): https://github.com/Lilly-dox/Exploit-CVE-2023-22518

## Other vulnerabilities in Atlassian Confluence Data Center

- [CVE-2023-22527](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22527/): Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Template Injection (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-22515](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22515/): Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Broken Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-26134](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26134/): Atlassian Confluence Server and Data Center Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-26084](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26084/): Atlassian Confluence Server and Data Center Object-Graph Navigation Language (OGNL) Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-26085](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26085/): Atlassian Confluence Server Pre-Authorization Arbitrary File Read (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-22518 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-22518 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Atlassian Confluence Data Center, published on 31 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-22518 in the wild since at least 7 Nov 2023, including in ransomware campaigns.

Affected product: Atlassian Confluence Data Center. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22518/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22518/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-22518
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22518
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-22518

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22518/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.