CVE-2026-21972: Oracle Configurator Information Disclosure

CVE-2026-21972 Overview

CVE-2026-21972 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting the Oracle Configurator product within Oracle E-Business Suite. The vulnerability exists in the User Interface component and can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to gain unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Configurator accessible data.

This easily exploitable vulnerability requires no user interaction or special privileges, making it a concern for organizations running affected versions of Oracle E-Business Suite. The attack can be launched remotely over the network, significantly increasing the potential attack surface.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can remotely access sensitive data within Oracle Configurator without any user interaction, potentially exposing confidential business configuration data.

Affected Products

• Oracle Configurator (component: User Interface) versions 12.2.3 through 12.2.15
• Oracle E-Business Suite deployments utilizing the affected Oracle Configurator versions

Discovery Timeline

• January 20, 2026 - CVE-2026-21972 published to NVD
• January 20, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-21972

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability in Oracle Configurator's User Interface component allows unauthenticated attackers to access restricted data through network-based requests over HTTP. The attack complexity is low, meaning no specialized conditions or circumstances are required to exploit this flaw.

The vulnerability specifically impacts confidentiality by allowing unauthorized read access to a subset of data managed by Oracle Configurator. This could include product configuration data, pricing information, or other sensitive business logic stored within the application. While the scope is unchanged (meaning the vulnerability does not extend beyond the affected component), the ability for any network-based attacker to access this data without authentication represents a significant security risk for enterprise environments.

Root Cause

The vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the Oracle Configurator User Interface component. The application fails to properly validate authentication status before serving certain data requests, allowing unauthenticated users to access information that should be restricted to authenticated users only.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication, privileges, or user interaction:

1. An attacker identifies an Oracle E-Business Suite deployment running vulnerable Oracle Configurator versions (12.2.3-12.2.15)
2. The attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to the User Interface component
3. Due to insufficient access controls, the application responds with data that should be protected
4. The attacker gains unauthorized read access to Oracle Configurator data

The vulnerability is exploited through standard HTTP requests, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the target system. For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, refer to the Oracle Critical Patch Update January 2026.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-21972

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests targeting Oracle Configurator endpoints from unauthenticated sources
• Anomalous access patterns to configuration data URLs without corresponding authentication events
• Increased volume of requests to the User Interface component from external IP addresses
• Log entries showing data access without associated authenticated sessions

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Oracle E-Business Suite access logs for requests to Oracle Configurator endpoints that lack authentication tokens
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and alert on suspicious request patterns targeting the User Interface component
• Enable detailed logging for the Oracle Configurator module to capture request metadata
• Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures for known exploitation patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Establish baseline traffic patterns for Oracle Configurator and alert on deviations
• Configure SIEM correlation rules to identify potential exploitation attempts combining multiple indicators
• Monitor for data exfiltration attempts following unauthorized access to configuration data
• Implement real-time alerting for unauthenticated access attempts to sensitive Oracle E-Business Suite components

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-21972

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the Oracle Critical Patch Update (CPU) for January 2026 immediately to all affected Oracle E-Business Suite installations
• Restrict network access to Oracle Configurator endpoints to authorized users and networks only
• Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of Oracle E-Business Suite components
• Enable enhanced logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts while patching is in progress

Patch Information

Oracle has addressed this vulnerability in the January 2026 Critical Patch Update. Organizations should apply the patch as soon as possible to remediate this vulnerability. The official patch and additional details are available through the Oracle Critical Patch Update January 2026.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network access controls to limit HTTP access to Oracle Configurator to trusted internal networks only
• Deploy a reverse proxy or web application firewall to enforce authentication before requests reach the vulnerable component
• Consider temporarily disabling public-facing access to Oracle Configurator until the patch can be applied
• Enable Oracle E-Business Suite's built-in security features to add additional authentication layers where possible

# Example: Restrict access to Oracle Configurator at the network level
# Add firewall rules to limit access to trusted networks only
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 0.0.0.0/0 -j DROP