CVE-2001-1317 in Office
Summary
by MITRE
Teamware Office Enterprise Directory allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code, via invalid encodings for certain BER object types, as demonstrated by the PROTOS LDAPv3 test suite.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1317 affects Teamware Office Enterprise Directory software, which represents a significant security flaw in enterprise directory services that could be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system integrity and availability. This issue specifically targets the software's handling of certain Basic Encoding Rules (BER) object types within the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol version 3 implementation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly process malformed or invalid BER encodings, creating potential attack vectors that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests when the software encounters invalid encodings for specific BER object types, particularly those used in LDAPv3 communications. This weakness allows attackers to craft specially malformed packets that, when processed by the vulnerable directory service, trigger unexpected behavior leading to system crashes or potential code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through standard network protocols without requiring authentication, making it accessible to anyone who can reach the affected system. The PROTOS LDAPv3 test suite demonstrates how these malformed BER encodings can be constructed to exploit the vulnerability effectively.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious threat to enterprise network stability and security infrastructure. The potential for remote denial of service means that attackers can disrupt directory services critical to authentication, authorization, and identity management across organizations. Additionally, the possibility of arbitrary code execution presents a severe escalation risk, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems, escalate privileges, and compromise entire network infrastructures. The vulnerability affects systems where Teamware Office Enterprise Directory is deployed, particularly those that rely on LDAP for directory services, making it a critical concern for enterprise security teams managing large-scale directory environments.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across enterprise networks where LDAP services are exposed to untrusted networks or where proper network segmentation is lacking. Organizations using Teamware Office Enterprise Directory should consider implementing immediate mitigations including network access controls, firewall rules restricting LDAP traffic to trusted sources, and protocol-level restrictions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses issues related to insufficient input validation, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service through protocol manipulation. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious BER encoding patterns and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patches from the vendor remain the most effective long-term solution to address this vulnerability and prevent unauthorized access to directory services.