---
title: "CVE-2023-22518: Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Improper Authorization Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-22518/
description: "CVE-2023-22518 (Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). All versions of Confluence Data Center and Server are…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2023-10-31
date_modified: 2026-10-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-22518"
kev: true
cvss: 10
epss: 0.99999
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

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

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-11-07, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2023-11-28 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns .
- EPSS 100.0% , percentile 100.0: FIRST’s model estimates a 100.0% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 100.0% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Editorial verdict: Act now. Confluence CVE-2023-22518: Unauthenticated Reset to Admin — Any self-hosted Confluence that is reachable from the internet and not on a fixed release can be wiped and taken over by an unauthenticated request; patch or pull it offline, and Atlassian Cloud users have nothing to do.

## What it is

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.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Atlassian Confluence Data Center: >= 1.0.0
- Atlassian Confluence Server: >= 1.0.0

## Severity

- atlassian CVSS 3.0: 10 `CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2023-11-07; federal due date 2023-11-28. Known ransomware use: Known.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable yes , technical impact partial .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 100.00% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 100.0.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (confluence.atlassian.com)](https://confluence.atlassian.com/security/cve-2023-22518-improper-authorization-vulnerability-in-confluence-data-center-and-server-1311473907.html)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-22518](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-22518)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-22518](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22518)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-22518)
- [confluence.atlassian.com](https://confluence.atlassian.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1311473907)
- [jira.atlassian.com](https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONFSERVER-93142)
- [packetstormsecurity.com](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176264/Atlassian-Confluence-Improper-Authorization-Code-Execution.html)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-22518/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt