CVE-2026-2697 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting Tenable Security Center. The vulnerability arises from an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) flaw in the handling of the 'owner' parameter. An authenticated remote attacker can exploit this flaw by manipulating the 'owner' parameter to escalate privileges beyond their assigned access rights. This bypass allows unauthorized access or modification of resources, potentially compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have valid credentials (low privileges) but does not require any user interaction, making exploitation feasible in environments where attackers have some level of access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.3, indicating a moderate risk with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and privileges required. No known public exploits or patches are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The flaw impacts all versions of Tenable Security Center prior to the fix, emphasizing the need for timely remediation. Given Tenable Security Center's role in vulnerability management and security monitoring, exploitation could undermine an organization's security posture by granting unauthorized control over security data and configurations.

The impact of CVE-2026-2697 is significant for organizations relying on Tenable Security Center for vulnerability management and security monitoring. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can escalate privileges from a low-level authenticated user to gain unauthorized access to sensitive security data, configurations, or administrative functions. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, unauthorized changes to security policies, or disruption of security operations. The compromise of Security Center could also facilitate further attacks within the network by providing attackers with insights or control over vulnerability data. While the vulnerability does not allow unauthenticated access, the requirement for valid credentials means insider threats or compromised accounts pose a serious risk. The medium severity rating reflects the balance between the need for authentication and the potential damage from privilege escalation. Organizations worldwide using Tenable Security Center are at risk, especially those with large, complex environments where monitoring and controlling user privileges is challenging.

To mitigate CVE-2026-2697, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict access to Tenable Security Center to trusted administrators and users with a strict need-to-know basis, minimizing the number of accounts with any level of access. 2) Enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3) Monitor logs and audit trails for unusual activities related to privilege escalations or manipulation of the 'owner' parameter. 4) Apply network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the Security Center to only necessary network segments and users. 5) Follow Tenable's advisories closely and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available. 6) Conduct regular reviews of user privileges within the Security Center to ensure least privilege principles are maintained. 7) Consider implementing additional application-layer controls or web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious parameter tampering attempts. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice and focus on reducing the attack surface and detecting exploitation attempts.