Introducing CVE-2023-22527, a critical template injection vulnerability found in older versions of Confluence Data Center and Server, which, if exploited, can lead to Remote Code Execution (RCE) by unauthenticated attackers. This poses a significant risk to businesses and organizations that are running affected instances of Confluence Data Center and Server.

This post will cover the details of the vulnerability, including a code snippet demonstrating the exploit in action, links to original references for validation and documentation, and precautionary measures to be taken to secure your Confluence instances.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability is an unauthenticated attacker having the ability to inject malicious code into a Confluence template, which can then be executed on an affected instance, achieving RCE. This allows the attacker to gain unauthorized access and control over the affected instance, enabling them to carry out damaging actions such as data theft or system tampering.

Affected Versions

It is critical to note that the most recent supported versions of Confluence Data Center and Server are not affected by this vulnerability. The issue was sufficiently mitigated during regular version updates, providing a safe environment for current customers using the latest instances.

However, for customers using older versions, it is essential to take immediate action to protect their instances from potential exploitation. When it comes to security, updating to the latest version is always the best practice.

Here's a simplified code snippet that demonstrates the exploit in action

POST /confluence/rest/tinymce/1/macro/preview HTTP/1.1
Host: target_instance
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "contentId": "123456",
  "macro": {
    "name": "widget",
    "body": "",
    "params": {
      "url": "http://malicious_url_here";,
      "width": "sample_payload",
      "height": "sample_payload"
    }
  }
}

In the above code snippet, the attacker sends a malicious HTTP POST request with the intention to execute the sample_payload code on the target instance.

For more information on CVE-2023-22527, please refer to the following original references

1. CVE-2023-22527 NVD page
2. Atlassian Confluence Security Advisory

For customers still using older versions of Confluence Data Center and Server, the following steps are recommended:

1. Update to the latest version of Confluence Data Center and Server, which is not affected by this vulnerability.
2. Review Atlassian’s January Security Bulletin to understand and address non-critical vulnerabilities that may still be present.

Monitor and audit your Confluence instance for any signs of unauthorized access or tampering.

In conclusion, CVE-2023-22527 is a critical vulnerability affecting older versions of Confluence Data Center and Server. Avoid potential exposure to this vulnerability by updating to the latest version. Always prioritize the security measures outlined by Atlassian and ensure your organization's instances remain protected.

Timeline

Published on: 01/16/2024 05:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 01/25/2024 02:00:01 UTC