CVE-2026-0492 is a critical vulnerability classified under CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function) affecting SAP HANA database version 2.00. The vulnerability arises because the system allows authenticated users to invoke a function that switches user context without properly verifying authorization. This missing authentication check enables an attacker who has valid credentials for any user account to escalate privileges by switching to another user, including administrative accounts. The exploit can be executed remotely over the network without requiring user interaction, and the attack complexity is low, making it feasible for attackers with limited capabilities. The consequence of successful exploitation is a full compromise of the SAP HANA database, impacting confidentiality (unauthorized data access), integrity (unauthorized data modification), and availability (potential disruption of database services). SAP HANA is widely used in enterprise environments for critical business applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability’s nature and high CVSS score (8.8) indicate a strong potential for future exploitation. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate risk mitigation and monitoring by affected organizations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-0492 is severe due to the widespread use of SAP HANA in industries such as manufacturing, finance, telecommunications, and public sector services. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive business data, intellectual property theft, financial fraud, and disruption of critical business processes. The ability to escalate privileges to administrative levels means attackers could manipulate or delete data, disrupt operations, or establish persistent backdoors within enterprise environments. This could also affect compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR, leading to legal and financial repercussions. Organizations relying heavily on SAP HANA for mission-critical applications face increased operational risk and potential reputational damage. The vulnerability’s network accessibility and lack of required user interaction increase the likelihood of remote exploitation, making it a significant threat vector for European enterprises.

1. Immediately review and restrict user privileges within SAP HANA to the minimum necessary, especially limiting the ability to switch user contexts. 2. Implement strict access controls and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all SAP HANA user accounts to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Monitor SAP HANA logs and audit trails for unusual user switching activities or privilege escalations to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 4. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to SAP HANA database servers only to trusted and necessary systems. 5. Apply SAP security notes and patches as soon as they become available for this vulnerability. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on SAP environments to identify and remediate privilege escalation risks. 7. Educate administrators and users about the risks of credential sharing and enforce strong password policies. 8. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) or database activity monitoring solutions to detect and block suspicious actions in real time.