CVE-2023-22522 in Confluence Data Center
Summary
by MITRE • 12/06/2023
This Template Injection vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker, including one with anonymous access, to inject unsafe user input into a Confluence page. Using this approach, an attacker is able to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) on an affected instance. Publicly accessible Confluence Data Center and Server versions as listed below are at risk and require immediate attention. See the advisory for additional details
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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical template injection flaw in Atlassian Confluence Server and Data Center products that enables authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the template processing engine, allowing malicious users to inject dangerous payloads that get executed within the application context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited by users with minimal privileges, including those with anonymous access, making it a significant threat vector for unauthorized system compromise. The attack chain begins with template injection, where unsafe user input is processed through Confluence's templating system, ultimately leading to remote code execution capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes the weakness of executing arbitrary code or commands, and falls under the broader category of code injection vulnerabilities. The flaw exists in the way Confluence handles user-supplied template data, where insufficient sanitization allows attackers to manipulate template syntax to execute malicious commands on the underlying server. This represents a severe privilege escalation scenario where an attacker can leverage template processing features to gain full system control. The vulnerability affects specific versions of Confluence Server and Data Center, with Atlassian Cloud deployments being immune due to their different architecture and security configurations. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious template content that bypasses existing security controls, leveraging legitimate template processing mechanisms to achieve code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected Confluence instances, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and further lateral movement within network environments. Organizations running vulnerable Confluence deployments face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive corporate documentation, user credentials, and internal system information. The vulnerability's accessibility to authenticated users with minimal privileges means that even low-privilege accounts can potentially exploit it, creating a broader attack surface than typical RCE vulnerabilities. This makes it particularly dangerous for organizations with extensive Confluence usage where multiple users have varying levels of access permissions.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to address the root cause of the template injection vulnerability. Organizations must ensure all Confluence Server and Data Center instances are updated to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of Confluence instances to untrusted networks. Monitoring for suspicious template usage patterns and user behavior anomalies can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures within the application, along with regular security assessments and penetration testing, will help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation involves executing code through legitimate system interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.