CVE-2023-22522: Critical Template Injection Vulnerability in Confluence Leads to Remote Code Execution

A recently discovered Template Injection vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-22522, has put Confluence Data Center and Server users at risk of exploits. This high-severity vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker, even one with anonymous access, to inject malicious code into Confluence pages. If exploited successfully, an attacker can achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) on the affected Confluence instance. As a result, it poses a significant threat that requires immediate remediation.

Note: Atlassian Cloud sites are not impacted by this vulnerability. If your Confluence site has an atlassian.net domain, it is hosted by Atlassian and not vulnerable to this issue.

Exploit Details

The Template Injection vulnerability stems from the mishandling of user input in certain Confluence templates. In a successful attack, the attacker first logs into the Confluence instance, then embeds malicious code in a Confluence page. This code snippet exploits the unsafe handling of user input:

<!-- Template Injection Attack -->
{{#{payload}'}}

The injected code, referred to as the payload, is disguised within the page content, making it difficult to identify as a threat. Once the payload is executed, the attacker gains control of the Confluence instance and can proceed to launch further attacks.

Mitigation Steps

To protect your Confluence Data Center or Server instance from CVE-2023-22522 exploitation, you should follow the below steps:

1. Update your software: Immediately update your Confluence instance to a version containing the fix for this vulnerability:
- For version 7.9.x users, update to Confluence 7.9.4
- For version 7.12.x users, update to Confluence 7.12.5
- For version 7.13.x users, update to Confluence 7.13.1

2. Implement additional security measures: Limit user access, disable anonymous access, and monitor unusual activity to prevent potential exploitation of this vulnerability.

For more information, consult the official CVE-2023-22522 advisory for further recommendations and details related to the vulnerability.

Conclusion

The Template Injection vulnerability, CVE-2023-22522, poses a significant threat to Confluence Data Center and Server instances. By understanding the risks associated with this vulnerability and implementing the appropriate updates and security measures, you can better protect your Confluence environment from potential exploitation and Remote Code Execution.

Timeline

Published on: 12/06/2023 05:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 12/11/2023 18:37:00 UTC