# CVE-2023-22518: Atlassian Confluence - Information Disclosure

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-22518 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-22518

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Background Noise. Continuous low-level scanning or exploitation attempts are observed, mostly opportunistic and automated.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Atlassian Confluence Server
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization)
- **Tags:** enterprise_software, wiki

## 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.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2023-22518](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-22518) is a critical vulnerability in Confluence Data Center and Server that permits unauthenticated attackers to reset the application and create an administrator account. This can result in complete compromise of the affected instance, allowing full administrative control and leading to loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 6th of November 2023.

Based on data from the CrowdSec network, nearly all observed exploitation of CVE-2023-22518 is fully opportunistic, with attackers indiscriminately scanning the entire internet. These attacks are automated and lack any form of target selection or reconnaissance.
Additionally, according to week-over-week analysis by CrowdSec, exploitation of CVE-2023-22518 is surging. Attack volumes are spiking well above historical norms, indicating widespread and escalating interest from threat actors. CVE-2023-22518 is currently experiencing high visibility and active exploitation across the internet.

Attackers typically target endpoints involved in the Confluence setup and administrator account creation process.

## Timeline

- 2023-10-31: CVE Published. CVE-2023-22518 is published to NVD.
- 2023-11-06: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-22518 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2023-11-06: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2023-22518 for the first time.
- 2023-11-07: CISA KEV. CVE-2023-22518 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2023-11-28: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).

## References

- https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONFSERVER-93142
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-22518.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-22518) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-22518. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.