CVE-2026-73924 in Helidon
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Vulnerability in the Helidon product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Imperative Web Server). The supported version that is affected is 1.4.19. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Helidon. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Helidon accessible data as well as unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Helidon accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 9.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The identified vulnerability resides within the Imperative Web Server component of Oracle Fusion Middleware Helidon, specifically affecting version 1.4.19. This security flaw represents a critical deficiency in how the web server handles incoming HTTP requests from unauthenticated sources. The architecture of Helidon’s imperative programming model relies on synchronous request processing, and this particular vulnerability suggests that input validation or state management mechanisms within this component are insufficiently robust against malicious payloads delivered over standard network connections. Because the attack vector is remote via HTTP with no requirement for authentication, any external actor can initiate an exploit without needing valid credentials, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for potential attackers.
The technical nature of this flaw allows for a severe compromise of data integrity and confidentiality. Successful exploitation enables an attacker to perform unauthorized creation, deletion, or modification of critical data stored within the Helidon environment. Furthermore, it grants access to sensitive information that should remain restricted, potentially leading to complete exposure of all accessible data managed by the application server. This level of access effectively bypasses standard security controls, allowing the adversary to manipulate system state and exfiltrate proprietary or personal information at will. The high severity is reflected in a CVSS 3.1 Base Score of 9.1, indicating that while availability impacts are not explicitly detailed as critical in this specific vector, the threats to confidentiality and integrity are catastrophic for organizational security postures.
From an industry standard perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, where insufficient sanitization or checking of user-supplied input leads to unintended behavior. It also maps closely to ATT&CK technique T1564 Hidden Files and Directories if the exploitation involves obscuring changes, though more directly it relates to data manipulation tactics such as T1537 Transfer Data to Cloud Account or T1089 Disabling Security Tools depending on the specific payload used. The lack of authentication requirements places this squarely within network-based attack vectors that are prevalent in modern web application security challenges, particularly those involving RESTful APIs and microservices architectures which Helidon is designed to support.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate data loss or corruption. It undermines the trustworthiness of the entire middleware layer, potentially leading to regulatory non-compliance if sensitive data such as personally identifiable information or financial records are exposed. Organizations relying on Oracle Fusion Middleware for critical business processes face significant reputational and legal risks due to this flaw. The ability to modify critical data implies that attackers could alter transactional records, delete audit logs, or inject malicious configurations, thereby disrupting business continuity and compromising the integrity of downstream systems connected to Helidon services.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching to a version where this vulnerability is resolved, as Oracle typically releases security patches for supported versions in their Critical Patch Update cycles. In environments where upgrading is not immediately feasible, network-level controls should be implemented to restrict access to the affected HTTP endpoints. This includes deploying Web Application Firewalls configured with rulesets that detect and block anomalous request patterns associated with input validation bypasses. Additionally, enforcing strict authentication requirements for all API endpoints can mitigate the risk of unauthenticated exploitation, although this is a compensating control rather than a fix for the underlying code defect. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the Helidon stack before they are exploited by adversaries.