CVE-2022-26134 in Confluence Server
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2022
In affected versions of Confluence Server and Data Center, an OGNL injection vulnerability exists that would allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a Confluence Server or Data Center instance. The affected versions are from 1.3.0 before 7.4.17, from 7.13.0 before 7.13.7, from 7.14.0 before 7.14.3, from 7.15.0 before 7.15.2, from 7.16.0 before 7.16.4, from 7.17.0 before 7.17.4, and from 7.18.0 before 7.18.1.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The CVE-2022-26134 vulnerability represents a critical OGNL injection flaw in Atlassian Confluence Server and Data Center platforms, exposing organizations to severe remote code execution risks. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the application's handling of user-supplied data, specifically in the parameter processing mechanisms that utilize Object-Graph Navigation Language for expression evaluation. The flaw exists across multiple version ranges, indicating a widespread issue that affected Confluence installations from version 1.3.0 through 7.18.0, with patches released for each affected branch. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and specifically addresses the dangerous practice of executing arbitrary code through injection techniques. The attack vector requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it allows any external party to exploit the system without requiring valid credentials, thereby violating fundamental security principles of access control and privilege separation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of specific parameters that are processed using OGNL expression evaluation engines. When user input containing malicious OGNL expressions reaches the application's processing layer, the system attempts to evaluate these expressions as part of its normal operation, inadvertently executing attacker-controlled code on the target server. This process leverages the inherent capabilities of OGNL to dynamically evaluate expressions, which becomes a security risk when untrusted input is processed without proper sanitization or validation. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise, as attackers can leverage the executed code to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the Confluence environment. The exploitation process typically involves crafting specific payloads that bypass standard security controls and leverage the application's legitimate OGNL processing capabilities for malicious purposes, making detection particularly challenging.
Organizations running affected Confluence versions face significant operational risks, including potential data breaches, system compromise, and disruption of business operations. The vulnerability's unauthenticated nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly attractive for automated attacks and large-scale exploitation campaigns. The impact on enterprise environments can be devastating, as Confluence servers often contain sensitive business information, internal documentation, and collaborative content that attackers can access and manipulate once they gain code execution privileges. This vulnerability also represents a serious threat to compliance requirements, as it can lead to unauthorized access to protected data and potential violations of data protection regulations. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that Confluence servers are commonly accessible from external networks, making them prime targets for threat actors seeking to establish persistent footholds within enterprise environments. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version branches indicates that organizations may have been exposed for extended periods, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term access to their systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-26134 focus primarily on immediate remediation through official patches provided by Atlassian, which address the root cause by implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms for OGNL expression processing. Organizations should prioritize updating their Confluence installations to versions 7.4.17, 7.13.7, 7.14.3, 7.15.2, 7.16.4, 7.17.4, or 7.18.1, depending on their current version, as these releases contain the necessary security fixes. Network-level protections such as firewall rules and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they cannot fully compensate for the lack of proper input validation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in parameter processing and potential exploitation attempts, while also implementing proper access controls to limit exposure of Confluence services to untrusted networks. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.008, which describes "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell," as attackers may use the executed code to launch further attacks or establish persistence within the compromised environment. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected versions, while incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability.