CVE-2022-26138
Atlassian Questions For Confluence App Hard-coded Credentials Vulnerability
Atlassian Confluence
The Atlassian Questions For Confluence app for Confluence Server and Data Center creates a Confluence user account in the confluence-users group with the username disabledsystemuser and a hardcoded password. A remote, unauthenticated attacker with knowledge of the hardcoded password could exploit this to log into Confluence and access all content accessible to users in the confluence-users group. This user account is created when installing versions 2.7.34, 2.7.35, and 3.0.2 of the app.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 29 July 2022. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 19 August 2022.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 98.2%, which is higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2022-26138 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2022-26138.
What does CVE-2022-26138 affect?
CVE-2022-26138 affects Atlassian Confluence. The Atlassian Questions For Confluence app for Confluence Server and Data Center creates a Confluence user account in the confluence-users group with the username disabledsystemuser and a hardcoded password. A remote, unauthenticated attacker with knowledge of the hardcoded password could exploit this to log into Confluence and access all content accessible to users in the confluence-users group. This user account is created when installing versions 2.7.34, 2.7.35, and 3.0.2 of the app.
How severe is CVE-2022-26138?
CVE-2022-26138 is rated CRITICAL with a CVSS base score of 9.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 98.2%, higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 19 August 2022.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2022-26138?
Apply the vendor patch for Atlassian Confluence as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.