Unauthenticated instance reset via exposed restore action
Published Oct 31, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
Improper authorization in Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server allows remote attackers to reset an instance without authentication. The /json/setup-restore.action route accepts an attacker-supplied Confluence backup without authorization and imports its account data. Network access to a self-managed instance is sufficient; the reset can replace content and create an instance administrator account.
Summary
What happened
Improper authorization in Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server allows remote attackers to reset an instance without authentication. The /json/setup-restore.action route accepts an attacker-supplied Confluence backup without authorization and imports its account data. Network access to a self-managed instance is sufficient; the reset can replace content and create an instance administrator account.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-22518
- Published
- Oct 31, 2023
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Atlassian
- Product
- Confluence Data Center
- Classifications
- CWE-863, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 31, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 5, 2023Exploitation reportedCerber ransomware deployment after Confluence exploitation
- Nov 5, 2023Exploitation reportedMass exploitation of internet-facing Confluence servers
- Nov 7, 2023Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry
- Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=>= 1.0.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
View daily counts
| Reporting day | Unique IPs |
|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2026 | 6 |
| Sep 11, 2026 | 8 |
| Sep 12, 2026 | 9 |
| Sep 13, 2026 | 5 |
| Sep 14, 2026 | 4 |
| Sep 15, 2026 | 1 |
| Sep 16, 2026 | 1 |
Public exploit references
- ForceFledgling CVE-2023-22518 restore exploitfunctional · unverified
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- Cerber ransomware deployment after Confluence exploitationransomware
- Mass exploitation of internet-facing Confluence serversreported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entryknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo