CVE-2026-101503 in Trusted Answer Search
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2026
Vulnerability in Oracle Trusted Answer Search (component: PLSQL package). The supported version that is affected is 26.1. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via Oracle Net to compromise Oracle Trusted Answer Search. While the vulnerability is in Oracle Trusted Answer Search, attacks may significantly impact additional products (scope change). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle Trusted Answer Search. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 9.9 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2026
The identified vulnerability resides within the PLSQL package of Oracle Trusted Answer Search, a component critical for managing security policies and access controls in enterprise environments. This flaw is present in version 26.1 and represents a severe risk due to its high exploitability and broad impact scope. The core technical issue allows an attacker with low privileges who has network access via the Oracle Net protocol to execute unauthorized actions within the database environment. Unlike many vulnerabilities that are isolated to their specific component, this flaw exhibits a significant scope change characteristic where exploitation does not merely affect the Trusted Answer Search module but can lead to the complete compromise of underlying systems and additional products dependent on it. This lateral movement capability amplifies the severity significantly, as attackers can pivot from a low-privileged entry point to achieve full administrative control over critical database infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, the successful exploitation of this vulnerability results in total system takeover with high impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability metrics. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.9 reflects the extreme danger posed by this flaw, driven by its network accessibility, low attack complexity, lack of user interaction requirements, and privileged attacker status. Attackers can leverage this weakness to exfiltrate sensitive data, alter system configurations maliciously, or disrupt service availability through denial-of-service conditions. The ability to compromise Oracle Trusted Answer Search effectively neutralizes a key security control mechanism, leaving the environment vulnerable to further exploitation by threat actors who may use the gained access for persistent backdoor installation, ransomware deployment, or espionage activities against high-value targets.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management and CWE-78 OS Command Injection if applicable within the PLSQL execution context, as it involves unauthorized elevation of privileges through network-accessible interfaces. In terms of adversary tactics, this flaw facilitates initial access via valid accounts (T1078) and potentially privilege escalation techniques found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework such as Exploitation for Privilege Escalation or Defense Evasion if the attacker modifies security logs to hide their presence. The network-based nature of the attack vector means that any host with connectivity to the Oracle Net service is a potential target, making perimeter defenses and internal segmentation critical considerations for mitigation strategies.
Mitigation efforts must prioritize immediate patching to the latest secure version of Oracle Trusted Answer Search as provided by vendor advisories. Organizations should also implement strict network access controls to limit exposure of database services to only authorized subnets and users. Enabling multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, applying principle of least privilege to all user roles, and monitoring for anomalous SQL execution patterns can help detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability before successful compromise occurs. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on PLSQL packages are recommended to identify similar weaknesses in other components that may share the same architectural flaws.