# Confluence Data Center/Server reset-and-takeover bug exploited for Cerber ransomware (CVE-2023-22518) · pwn.watch

> An improper authorization bug let unauthenticated attackers reset Confluence Data Center and Server and create a new admin. Within days of disclosure it was exploited to deploy Cerber ransomware. Atlassian Cloud was not affected.

Page: https://pwn.watch/i/atlassian-confluence-improper-authorization-cve-2023-22518 · generated 2026-10-22T22:41:49.181Z

## Status
- Severity: critical · status: closed · patch: patched
- Product: Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server
- Started: 2023-10-31 · closed: 2023-11-07
- CVEs: CVE-2023-22518
- Affected: All versions of Confluence Data Center and Server before the fixed releases (NVD)
- Fixed in: 7.19.16; 8.3.4; 8.4.4; 8.5.3; 8.6.1

## Follow this incident
- RSS (one item per update): https://pwn.watch/i/atlassian-confluence-improper-authorization-cve-2023-22518/feed.xml
- JSON Feed: https://pwn.watch/i/atlassian-confluence-improper-authorization-cve-2023-22518/feed.json
- Full data (timeline, sources, posts, agentBrief): https://pwn.watch/i/atlassian-confluence-improper-authorization-cve-2023-22518.json
- This file: https://pwn.watch/i/atlassian-confluence-improper-authorization-cve-2023-22518/llms.txt

## Updates (newest first)
- 2023-11-07: CISA adds CVE-2023-22518 to the KEV catalog
- 2023-11-06: Atlassian raises the CVSS score to 10 after active exploitation and Cerber ransomware deployments
- 2023-10-31: Atlassian discloses CVE-2023-22518 and ships fixes (https://confluence.atlassian.com/security/cve-2023-22518-improper-authorization-vulnerability-in-confluence-data-center-and-server-1311473907.html)

## Fix brief
# Security brief: Confluence Data Center/Server reset-and-takeover bug exploited for Cerber ransomware (CVE-2023-22518)

Source: https://pwn.watch/i/atlassian-confluence-improper-authorization-cve-2023-22518 · status: closed (closed Nov 7, 2023) · severity: critical · updated Nov 7, 2023

## Patch status
**PATCHED: fixed releases exist. Upgrade to a fixed version.**

## What it is
An improper authorization bug let unauthenticated attackers reset Confluence Data Center and Server and create a new admin. Within days of disclosure it was exploited to deploy Cerber ransomware. Atlassian Cloud was not affected.

Severity detail: CVSS 10.0 (Atlassian, raised from 9.1), actively exploited (CISA KEV), known ransomware use

- Product: Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server
- CVE / advisory ids: CVE-2023-22518

## Affected versions
- All versions of Confluence Data Center and Server before the fixed releases (NVD)

## Check whether you're affected
No generic command applies (the product is a hosted service, appliance or desktop app). Check the installed version in its admin UI / About screen and compare with the versions above.

## Fix
Upgrade to one of these fixed versions (or later on the same branch):
- 7.19.16
- 8.3.4
- 8.4.4
- 8.5.3
- 8.6.1

After upgrading, re-run the checks above and redeploy/restart the affected services.

## Latest updates
- Nov 7, 2023: CISA adds CVE-2023-22518 to the KEV catalog
- Nov 6, 2023: Atlassian raises the CVSS score to 10 after active exploitation and Cerber ransomware deployments
- Oct 31, 2023: Atlassian discloses CVE-2023-22518 and ships fixes

## Advisories
- [CVE-2023-22518 - Improper Authorization Vulnerability in Confluence Data Center and Server](https://confluence.atlassian.com/security/cve-2023-22518-improper-authorization-vulnerability-in-confluence-data-center-and-server-1311473907.html) (Atlassian)
- [NVD: CVE-2023-22518](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22518) (NVD)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) (CISA)

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Machine-readable: https://pwn.watch/i/atlassian-confluence-improper-authorization-cve-2023-22518.json · all incidents: https://pwn.watch/incidents.json. Verify against the vendor advisory before changing production systems.