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CVE-2026-60401 is a vulnerability in the Kubernetes Operator component of Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database version 26.1.1.1.0. The TimesTen Kubernetes Operator is responsible for deploying, managing, and monitoring TimesTen databases within Kubernetes environments. It exposes internal interfaces and APIs that facilitate database lifecycle operations, including provisioning, scaling, and failover.
The core issue lies in insufficient authorization checks when processing access requests from local low‑privileged users. The Operator’s API endpoints and internal functions do not adequately validate whether the calling user has the necessary permissions to perform certain read operations. An attacker who already has low‑privileged logon access to the underlying infrastructure (the Kubernetes node or host where TimesTen runs) can interact with these inadequately protected interfaces.
Because the Operator runs with elevated service account permissions to manage database resources, a successful attack can bypass the intended access controls of TimesTen itself. The attacker can issue crafted requests to the Operator, which then executes commands or queries against the TimesTen instance on the attacker’s behalf. This allows the attacker to read critical data stored in the in‑memory database, including sensitive application data, credentials, and configuration secrets.
The vulnerability is easily exploitable – it requires only local access, no user interaction, and low privileges. The attack complexity is low, meaning the required steps are straightforward and do not depend on unpredictable conditions. Furthermore, the scope is changed: while the vulnerability exists in TimesTen, the impact can extend to other products or components that rely on the same infrastructure or share data with TimesTen.
The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5 (Medium), with a vector of AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N. This indicates high confidentiality impact, no integrity or availability impact, and a changed scope. The weakness is classified as CWE‑200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). As of the disclosure date (July 21, 2026), no public exploit code or technical details have been released, and the estimated exploit price is in the $0‑$5k range.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database
Version: 26.1.1.1.0
Vulnerability: Kubernetes Operator access control bypass
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.5)
date: 2026‑07‑21
Prediction: Expected Q3 2026 patch
What Undercode Say:
Analytics:
- CVSS 3.1 Base Score: 6.5 (Medium)
- Attack Vector: Local (AV:L)
- Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
- Privileges Required: Low (PR:L)
- User Interaction: None (UI:N)
- Scope: Changed (S:C)
- Confidentiality Impact: High (C:H)
- Integrity Impact: None (I:N)
- Availability Impact: None (A:N)
- CWE: CWE‑200 (Information Exposure)
- MITRE ATT&CK Technique: T1592 (Gather Victim Host Information)
- Exploit Price Estimate: $0‑$5k
- Public Exploit: None at time of writing
Bash commands and codes to assess exposure:
Check the version of the TimesTen Kubernetes Operator
kubectl get deployment timesten-operator -o jsonpath='{.spec.template.spec.containers[bash].image}'
List TimesTenClassic custom resources to identify active databases
kubectl get timestenclassic --all-namespaces
Examine Operator logs for suspicious access patterns
kubectl logs deployment/timesten-operator --tail=100 | grep -i "unauthorized|denied|error"
Verify the service account used by the Operator
kubectl get deployment timesten-operator -o jsonpath='{.spec.template.spec.serviceAccountName}'
Check RBAC permissions granted to the Operator’s service account
kubectl describe clusterrole timesten-operator-role
Exploit:
No public exploit is available. However, the attack vector is local and requires the attacker to have low‑privileged logon access to the host or Kubernetes node. An attacker could potentially craft malicious requests to the Operator’s unauthenticated or weakly authenticated endpoints, leveraging the Operator’s high privileges to read arbitrary data from TimesTen databases. The exploitation is considered easy due to the low complexity and lack of user interaction.
Protection:
- Apply the official patch from Oracle as soon as it is released (expected in Q3 2026).
- Restrict local access to the infrastructure where TimesTen and the Operator run; limit logon privileges to only trusted administrators.
- Implement network policies to restrict communication with the Operator’s management interfaces to authorized pods and services only.
- Enable and enforce Kubernetes RBAC to limit the Operator’s service account permissions to the minimum required.
- Monitor Operator logs for anomalous access attempts and configure alerts for repeated authorization failures.
- Consider running the Operator in a dedicated namespace with additional security controls such as Pod Security Standards.
Impact:
Successful exploitation allows an attacker with only local low‑privileged access to read all data accessible by the TimesTen In‑Memory Database. This includes sensitive business data, credentials, encryption keys, and other confidential information stored in memory. Because the scope is changed, the attack may also compromise other connected products or services that rely on the same TimesTen instance, potentially leading to broader data breaches and compliance violations. The integrity and availability of the database are not directly affected, but the loss of confidentiality can have severe reputational and financial consequences.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
Extra Source Hub:
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