CVE-2026-60404: Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database DoS Flaw

CVE-2026-60404 Overview

CVE-2026-60404 affects the Kubernetes Operator component of Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database version 26.1.1.1.0. The vulnerability allows a low-privileged attacker with network access over HTTPS to trigger a hang or repeatable crash of the database. Successful exploitation results in a complete denial of service (DoS) of the TimesTen In-Memory Database instance.

Oracle disclosed the issue in the July 2026 Critical Patch Update. The flaw does not expose confidentiality or integrity impacts, but it fully degrades service availability.

Critical Impact
A low-privileged network attacker can crash or hang the TimesTen In-Memory Database, producing a complete availability outage of the affected instance.

Affected Products

Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database 26.1.1.1.0
Component: Kubernetes Operator
Deployments exposing the operator over HTTPS to authenticated users

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-21 - CVE CVE-2026-60404 published to NVD
2026-07-21 - Last updated in NVD database
July 2026 - Oracle addresses the vulnerability in the Critical Patch Update

Technical Details for CVE-2026-60404

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Kubernetes Operator component that manages TimesTen In-Memory Database deployments within Kubernetes clusters. An attacker holding low-level privileges can send crafted HTTPS requests to the operator and force the database into a hang state or a repeatable crash condition. The result is a full denial of service against the affected TimesTen instance.

The attack does not require user interaction and is executed remotely over the network. Only availability is affected — confidentiality and integrity remain intact. The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) currently rates the exploitation probability at 0.393% (31.88 percentile), indicating limited observed exploitation activity at this time.

Root Cause

Oracle has not published detailed root cause information. Based on the advisory, the defect resides in request handling within the TimesTen Kubernetes Operator. Improper validation or resource management in the operator's HTTPS-facing interface allows an authenticated request to place the database into an unrecoverable state.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network reachability to the operator's HTTPS endpoint and a low-privileged authenticated session. The attacker submits a request that the operator forwards or processes in a way that hangs the database or triggers a repeatable crash. Because the crash is reproducible, an attacker can maintain the outage by resending the trigger after each recovery attempt.

No public proof-of-concept code or exploit is currently available. Refer to the Oracle Critical Patch Update - July 2026 for vendor-provided technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-60404

Indicators of Compromise

Repeated or sustained crash-loop restarts of TimesTen database pods managed by the Kubernetes Operator
Unexpected hang states in TimesTen instances immediately following HTTPS requests to the operator API
Authenticated but unusual API calls from low-privileged service accounts targeting the operator

Detection Strategies

Correlate Kubernetes audit logs with TimesTen pod restart and liveness probe failure events
Monitor operator HTTPS access logs for anomalous request patterns preceding database availability loss
Alert on repeated CrashLoopBackOff states or hang detections in TimesTen-managed workloads

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest Kubernetes API server audit logs and TimesTen Operator logs into a centralized SIEM for correlation
Track authentication events for service accounts and users with access to the TimesTen Operator namespace
Establish availability baselines for TimesTen pods and alert on deviations that align with operator API activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-60404

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the July 2026 Oracle Critical Patch Update to Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database 26.1.1.1.0
Restrict network access to the TimesTen Kubernetes Operator to trusted administrative sources only
Review Kubernetes role-based access control (RBAC) bindings and remove unnecessary low-privileged access to the operator

Patch Information

Oracle addresses CVE-2026-60404 in the July 2026 Critical Patch Update. Administrators should follow vendor instructions in the Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory - July 2026 to update the affected TimesTen Kubernetes Operator deployment.

Workarounds

Apply Kubernetes NetworkPolicies to limit which pods and namespaces can reach the operator's HTTPS endpoint
Enforce least-privilege RBAC on service accounts that interact with the TimesTen Operator API
Enable pod-level readiness and liveness probes with automated failover procedures to reduce outage duration if a crash is triggered

bash

# Example: restrict operator access with a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy
kubectl apply -f - <<EOF
apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1
kind: NetworkPolicy
metadata:
  name: restrict-timesten-operator
  namespace: timesten-operator
spec:
  podSelector:
    matchLabels:
      app: timesten-operator
  policyTypes:
    - Ingress
  ingress:
    - from:
        - namespaceSelector:
            matchLabels:
              role: trusted-admin
      ports:
        - protocol: TCP
          port: 443
EOF