CVE-2026-61260 Overview
CVE-2026-61260 affects the Oracle HRMS (UK) product within Oracle E-Business Suite, specifically the UK Payroll component. The vulnerability impacts supported versions 12.2.3 through 12.2.15. A low-privileged attacker with network access via HTTP can exploit this weakness to compromise Oracle HRMS (UK). Successful exploitation permits unauthorized update, insert, or delete access to a portion of accessible data, along with unauthorized read access to a subset of that data. The flaw is classified under [CWE-284: Improper Access Control]. Oracle disclosed the issue as part of the July 2026 Critical Patch Update.
Critical Impact
Authenticated network attackers can modify and read a subset of UK Payroll data, exposing sensitive human resources records to tampering and disclosure.
Affected Products
- Oracle E-Business Suite - Oracle HRMS (UK) version 12.2.3
- Oracle E-Business Suite - Oracle HRMS (UK) versions 12.2.4 through 12.2.14
- Oracle E-Business Suite - Oracle HRMS (UK) version 12.2.15
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-21 - CVE-2026-61260 published to NVD
- 2026-07-22 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-61260
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the UK Payroll component of Oracle HRMS (UK), part of Oracle E-Business Suite. The weakness maps to [CWE-284: Improper Access Control], indicating that the application fails to enforce sufficient authorization checks on certain payroll operations. An authenticated user holding low privileges can invoke functionality that should be restricted, resulting in unauthorized data manipulation and partial data disclosure.
UK Payroll modules typically handle sensitive employee information, including salary, tax codes, National Insurance details, and pension contributions. Improper access control on these workflows exposes personally identifiable information (PII) and creates opportunities for payroll data tampering.
Root Cause
Oracle attributes the flaw to improper access control within the UK Payroll component. The application does not adequately verify that the requesting user is authorized to perform specific create, read, update, or delete operations on payroll records. Because authorization checks are missing or incomplete, users with legitimate but low-privilege accounts can reach functions outside their intended scope.
Attack Vector
The attack originates over the network using HTTP against the Oracle E-Business Suite web tier. The attacker must hold a valid low-privilege account on the target instance. No user interaction is required, and exploitation complexity is low. Once authenticated, the attacker issues crafted HTTP requests to UK Payroll endpoints to trigger the improperly protected operations.
See the Oracle Critical Patch Update - July 2026 for the vendor's technical description and patch mapping.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-61260
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected create, update, or delete operations against UK Payroll tables performed by low-privilege application accounts.
- HTTP requests to Oracle E-Business Suite UK Payroll endpoints originating from user sessions that should not have payroll authorization.
- Anomalous read access patterns against PAY_* or HRMS UK payroll views by non-payroll roles.
Detection Strategies
- Enable Oracle E-Business Suite Sign-On Audit and Page Access Tracking to capture user navigation into UK Payroll forms and self-service pages.
- Correlate database audit records with application user IDs to identify low-privilege users invoking payroll write operations.
- Compare user role assignments against actual payroll actions to identify authorization drift.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Oracle E-Business Suite application, middleware, and database audit logs to a centralized SIEM for continuous review.
- Alert on HTTP 200 responses to UK Payroll URLs from accounts outside the payroll responsibility group.
- Baseline expected payroll transaction volumes per user and alert on deviations that indicate abuse.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-61260
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the July 2026 Oracle Critical Patch Update to all Oracle E-Business Suite environments running HRMS (UK) versions 12.2.3 through 12.2.15.
- Review and reduce user responsibilities and role grants tied to UK Payroll functions to enforce least privilege.
- Audit recent UK Payroll changes to identify unauthorized modifications performed prior to patch deployment.
Patch Information
Oracle released fixes as part of the July 2026 Critical Patch Update. Administrators should consult the Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory - July 2026 for the specific patch identifiers applicable to Oracle E-Business Suite 12.2.3 through 12.2.15 and follow Oracle's documented application procedure for the E-Business Suite technology stack.
Workarounds
- Restrict network access to the Oracle E-Business Suite web tier so that only trusted internal networks and VPN users can reach UK Payroll URLs.
- Temporarily remove or lock user accounts that do not require UK Payroll access until the patch is deployed.
- Enable enhanced auditing on UK Payroll tables and monitor for unauthorized activity during the patch window.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
