Coverage › CVE-2023-22515

CVE-2023-22515 Mapped Sigma

Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server Broken Access Control Vulnerability

Vendor / product

Atlassian — Confluence Data Center and Server

Description (CISA)

Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server contains a broken access control vulnerability that allows an attacker to create unauthorized Confluence administrator accounts and access Confluence.

Added to KEV

2023-10-05

Due date

2023-10-13

Required action

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Check all affected Confluence instances for evidence of compromise per vendor instructions and report any positive findings to CISA.

Known ransomware use

Known

CWE

none recorded by CISA

CISA notes

https://confluence.atlassian.com/security/cve-2023-22515-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-in-confluence-data-center-and-server-1295682276.html
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22515

Elsewhere

cve.org · NVD · CISA KEV · JSON

ATT&CK techniques · CTID Mappings Explorer, ATT&CK 16.1, KEV snapshot 2025-07-28

5 mapping objects across 5 techniques. exploitation technique states how the vulnerability is exploited; primary and secondary impact state what exploitation achieves. They are different claims and are labelled as such.

Detection chain · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2 detection strategies, analytics, log sources

T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter secondary impact

• DET0516 Behavioral Detection of Command and Scripting Interpreter Abuse
  AN1428 Windows

  Detects the execution of scripting or command interpreters (e.g., powershell.exe, cmd.exe, wscript.exe) outside expected administrative time windows or from abnormal user contexts, often followed by encoded/obfuscated arguments or secondary execution events.

  WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1 → DC0032 Process Creation

  Tunable: CommandLinePattern ParentProcessName TimeWindow
  AN1429 Linux

  Detects use of shell interpreters (e.g., bash, sh, python, perl) initiated by users or processes not normally executing them, especially when chaining suspicious utilities like netcat, curl, or ssh.

  auditd:SYSCALL execve → DC0032 Process Creation

  Tunable: InterpreterName UserContext ExecutionChainLength
  AN1430 macOS

  Detects launch of command-line interpreters via Terminal, Automator, or hidden osascript, especially when parent process lineage deviates from user-initiated applications.

  macos:unifiedlog log stream --info --predicate 'eventMessage CONTAINS "exec"' → DC0032 Process Creation

  Tunable: LaunchAgentName ScriptName TerminalAppUsage
  AN1431 ESXi

  Detects use of 'esxcli system' or direct interpreter commands (e.g., busybox shell) invoked from SSH or host terminal unexpectedly.

  esxi:vobd shell session start → DC0064 Command Execution

  Tunable: ShellEnabledFlag SSHContext
  AN1432 Network Devices

  Identifies CLI interpreter access (e.g., Cisco IOS, Juniper JUNOS) via enable mode or scripting-capable sessions used by uncommon accounts or from unknown IPs.

  networkdevice:cli shell command → DC0064 Command Execution

  networkdevice:syslog authentication & authorization → DC0002 User Account Authentication

  Tunable: UserRole DeviceType

Sigma rules tagged attack.t1059 (95)

All 95 rules on the technique page →

T1059.007 JavaScript primary impact

• DET0264 Cross-Platform Detection of JavaScript Execution Abuse
  AN0733 Windows

  Detects JavaScript execution through WSH (wscript.exe, cscript.exe) or HTA (mshta.exe), particularly when spawned from Office macros, web browsers, or abnormal user paths. Correlates script execution with outbound network activity or system modification.

  WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1 → DC0032 Process Creation

  m365:defender ScriptBlockLogging + AMSI → DC0029 Script Execution

  WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=7 → DC0016 Module Load

  Tunable: ParentProcess ScriptPath TimeWindow UserContext EntropyScore
  AN0734 macOS

  Detects JavaScript for Automation (JXA) via osascript or compiled scripts using OSAKit APIs. Flags execution involving system modification, inter-process scripting, or browser abuse.

  macos:unifiedlog log stream with predicate 'eventMessage CONTAINS "osascript"' → DC0029 Script Execution

  macos:osquery process_events → DC0032 Process Creation

  macos:syslog /var/log/system.log → DC0064 Command Execution

  Tunable: ScriptLocation ParentProcess APIInvocation
  AN0735 Linux

  Detects Node.js or JavaScript interpreter execution from web shells, cron jobs, or local users. Correlates execution with reverse shell behavior, file modifications, or abnormal outbound connections.

  auditd:SYSCALL execve → DC0032 Process Creation

  linux:syslog /var/log/syslog → DC0029 Script Execution

  Tunable: ScriptPath BinaryName UserExecutionContext NetworkFollowUp

Sigma rules tagged attack.t1059.007 (29)

All 29 rules on the technique page →

T1078 Valid Accounts secondary impact

• DET0560 Detection of Valid Account Abuse Across Platforms
  AN1543 Windows

  Detection of compromised or misused valid accounts via anomalous logon patterns, abnormal logon types, and inconsistent geographic or time-based activity across Windows endpoints.

  WinEventLog:Security EventCode=4624 → DC0067 Logon Session Creation

  WinEventLog:Security EventCode=4776, 4625 → DC0002 User Account Authentication

  WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1 → DC0032 Process Creation

  Tunable: LogonType TimeWindow GeoIPMismatch
  AN1544 Linux

  Detection of valid account misuse through SSH logins, sudo/su abuse, and service account anomalies outside expected patterns.

  auditd:SYSCALL execve → DC0032 Process Creation

  NSM:Connections sshd or PAM logins → DC0002 User Account Authentication

  Tunable: UserContext HostDensityThreshold LoginMethod
  AN1545 macOS

  Detection of interactive and remote logins by service accounts or users at unusual times, with unexpected child process activity.

  macos:unifiedlog loginwindow, sshd → DC0088 Logon Session Metadata

  macos:unifiedlog exec logs → DC0032 Process Creation

  Tunable: LoginOrigin ProcessTreeDepth
  AN1546 Identity Provider

  Detection of valid account abuse in IdP logs via geographic anomalies, impossible travel, risky sign-ins, and multiple MFA attempts or failures.

  saas:okta Sign-in logs / audit events → DC0002 User Account Authentication

  Tunable: MFAFailureCount RiskScoreThreshold IPGeoVelocity
  AN1547 Containers

  Detection of containerized service accounts or compromised kubeconfigs being used for cluster access from unexpected nodes or IPs.

  kubernetes:audit authentication.k8s.io → DC0002 User Account Authentication

  Tunable: ServiceAccountScope ClusterIPWhitelist

Sigma rules tagged attack.t1078 (56)

All 56 rules on the technique page →

T1136 Create Account primary impact

• DET0583 Detection Strategy for T1136 - Create Account across platforms
  AN1604 Windows

  Adversary uses built-in OS tools or API calls to create local or domain accounts for persistence or lateral movement. Tools such as 'net user', PowerShell, or MMC snap-ins may be used. Detection focuses on Event ID 4720 paired with process lineage and user context.

  WinEventLog:Security EventCode=4720 → DC0014 User Account Creation

  WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1 → DC0032 Process Creation

  Tunable: TimeWindow ParentProcessName UserContext
  AN1605 Linux

  Adversary invokes 'useradd', 'adduser', or equivalent system commands or scripts to create local users. Detection focuses on command execution and audit trail of passwd/shadow file modifications.

  auditd:SYSCALL useradd or adduser executed → DC0014 User Account Creation

  auditd:SYSCALL chmod/chown to /etc/passwd or /etc/shadow → DC0061 File Modification

  Tunable: BinaryPath ExecutionTime
  AN1606 macOS

  Adversary creates new users using 'dscl' commands, GUI tools, or by modifying user plist files. Detection includes monitoring dscl invocation and user-related plist changes.

  macos:unifiedlog dscl . -create → DC0064 Command Execution

  macos:unifiedlog modification to /var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default/users/ → DC0061 File Modification

  Tunable: UsernamePattern ExecutionSource
  AN1607 Identity Provider

  Adversary creates users via IAM/IdP API or portal (e.g., Azure AD, Okta). Detection involves monitoring API calls, admin action logs, and correlation with role assignments.

  azure:audit Add user → DC0014 User Account Creation

  Tunable: AdminThreshold AutomationExemptions
  AN1608 IaaS

  Account creation via cloud service APIs or CLI, often associated with key generation. Monitored via CloudTrail or equivalent audit logs.

  AWS:CloudTrail CreateUser → DC0014 User Account Creation

  AWS:CloudTrail AttachUserPolicy → DC0010 User Account Modification

  Tunable: Region ServiceScope

Sigma rules tagged attack.t1136 (3)

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application exploitation technique

• DET0080 Exploit Public-Facing Application – multi-signal correlation (request → error → post-exploit process/egress)
  AN0219 Windows

  Adversary sends crafted HTTP/S (or other service) input to an Internet-facing app (IIS/ASP.NET, API, device portal). Chain: (1) abnormal request patterns to public endpoint → (2) elevated 4xx/5xx or unusual methods/paths → (3) server process (w3wp.exe/other service) spawns shell/LOLbins or loads non-standard modules → (4) optional outbound callback from the host/container.

  ApplicationLog:IIS IIS W3C logs in C:\inetpub\logs\LogFiles\W3SVC* (spikes in 5xx, RCE/SQLi/path traversal/JNDI patterns) → DC0038 Application Log Content

  WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1 → DC0032 Process Creation

  WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=7 → DC0016 Module Load

  WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=3, 22 → DC0082 Network Connection Creation

  Tunable: PublicVIPs SuspiciousPatterns ErrorRateThreshold TimeWindow AllowedChildList
  AN0220 Linux

  Adversary exploits Apache/Nginx/app servers. Chain: (1) suspicious requests in access logs → (2) spike of 5xx or WAF blocks → (3) web server or interpreter (apache2/nginx/php-fpm/node/python) spawns /bin/sh, curl, wget, socat, or writes webshell → (4) outbound callback.

  ApplicationLog:WebServer /var/log/httpd/access_log, /var/log/apache2/access.log, /var/log/nginx/access.log with exploit indicators and burst errors → DC0038 Application Log Content

  auditd:SYSCALL execve → DC0032 Process Creation

  NSM:Flow HTTP payloads with SQLi/LFI/JNDI/deserialization indicators → DC0085 Network Traffic Content

  Tunable: WebProcList ChildToolList BurstThreshold TimeWindow
  AN0221 macOS

  Adversary targets macOS-hosted public services (e.g., nginx, node). Chain: suspicious inbound request → service crash/5xx → service spawns shell or writes file → new outbound connection.

  macos:unifiedlog App/web server logs ingested via unified logging or filebeat (nginx/apache/node). → DC0038 Application Log Content

  macos:unifiedlog exec events where web process starts a shell/tooling → DC0032 Process Creation

  NSM:Flow outbound egress from web host after suspicious request → DC0085 Network Traffic Content

  Tunable: ServiceList TimeWindow
  AN0222 Containers

  Adversary exploits containerized app via ingress or service. Chain: (1) suspicious request in ingress/app logs → (2) container process spawns a shell/exec/sidecar (kubectl exec/docker exec) → (3) egress to Internet or metadata service (169.254.169.254).

  ApplicationLog:Ingress Kubernetes NGINX/Envoy ingress controller logs with anomalous payloads and 5xx spikes → DC0038 Application Log Content

  docker:events Docker/Kubernetes audit of exec/attach (kubectl exec) or unexpected child processes inside container → DC0032 Process Creation

  NSM:Flow Requests towards cloud metadata or command & control from pod IPs → DC0085 Network Traffic Content

  Tunable: IngressNamespaces MetadataEndpoints TimeWindow
  AN0223 IaaS

  Adversary targets cloud-hosted public endpoints. Chain: (1) ALB/ELB/Cloud LB logs show exploit-like inputs or error spikes → (2) workload spawns shell or reaches metadata API → (3) egress to new external hosts.

  ALB:HTTPLogs AWS ALB/ELB/GCP/Azure Application Gateway HTTP logs with unusual methods, long URIs, serialized payloads, 4xx/5xx bursts → DC0085 Network Traffic Content

  AWS:VPCFlowLogs VPC/NSG flow logs for pod/instance egress to Internet or metadata → DC0078 Network Traffic Flow

  Tunable: LBProjects ErrorBurst
  AN0224 ESXi

  Adversary exploits exposed OpenSLP on ESXi or vCenter public endpoints. Chain: inbound request pattern to mgmt service → hostd/vpxd error/crash/restart → unexpected process behavior or datastore access → outbound callback.

  esxi:hostd /var/log/hostd.log anomalies (faults, crashes, restarts) around inbound connections → DC0038 Application Log Content

  NSM:Flow Connections to TCP 427 (SLP) or vCenter web services from untrusted sources → DC0085 Network Traffic Content

  Tunable: MgmtCIDR TimeWindow
  AN0225 Network Devices

  Adversary exploits public admin services on routers/firewalls/switches. Chain: anomalous HTTP/SNMP/SmartInstall inputs → device syslog errors/restarts → config changes/CLI spawn → egress to attacker C2.

  networkdevice:controlplane Syslog from edge devices with HTTP 500s on mgmt portal, SmartInstall events, unexpected CLI commands → DC0038 Application Log Content

  NSM:Flow NetFlow/sFlow for odd egress to Internet from mgmt plane → DC0085 Network Traffic Content

  Tunable: MgmtPorts TrustedAdmins

Sigma rules tagged attack.t1190 (149)

All 149 rules on the technique page →