CVE-2016-6283 in Confluence
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Atlassian Confluence before 5.10.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the newFileName parameter to pages/doeditattachment.action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6283 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Atlassian Confluence software versions prior to 5.10.6. This weakness resides in the application's handling of user input within the pages/doeditattachment.action endpoint, specifically targeting the newFileName parameter. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the failure to properly neutralize user input data when it is incorporated into generated web pages, creating opportunities for malicious code injection.
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads and submitting them through the newFileName parameter during attachment editing operations. When the vulnerable Confluence instance processes this input without adequate sanitization or encoding, the malicious script gets executed within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. This creates a persistent threat vector where compromised users become unwitting participants in the attack chain, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further lateral movement within the target environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the Confluence environment in ways that compromise the integrity of collaborative documentation systems. Organizations relying on Confluence for knowledge management, project documentation, and team collaboration face significant risks when this vulnerability exists, particularly in environments where users have varying privilege levels and where sensitive corporate information is stored. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Confluence is widely used in enterprise settings where the compromise of a single instance can affect numerous users and potentially expose confidential data.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Confluence instances to version 5.10.6 or later, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. Organizations should also implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom applications, following established security practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Network-based mitigations including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of protection, though these should not replace proper application-level fixes. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their Confluence deployments to identify any other potentially vulnerable endpoints and ensure that all user input is properly validated and sanitized before processing. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing robust security controls around web application interfaces that handle user-provided data, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through various injection methods including web scripting attacks.