CVE-2002-2279 in aldap
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the bind function in config.inc of aldap 0.09 allows remote attackers to authenticate with Manager permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2279 resides within the aldap 0.09 software suite, specifically in the configuration file known as config.inc where the bind function is implemented. This represents a critical authentication flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems relying on this software for directory services. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undocumented in the public domain, though the impact is clear in its potential for privilege escalation.
The core technical flaw involves an improper implementation of the LDAP bind function that allows remote attackers to bypass normal authentication controls and assume Manager permissions within the directory service. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of authentication bypass flaws that can be classified as CWE-287 - Improper Authentication, which is a well-documented weakness in software security architecture. The vulnerability enables unauthorized access to privileged operations that should be restricted to authorized administrators only, creating a significant risk for data integrity and confidentiality.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates an immediate threat to enterprise directory services that depend on aldap 0.09 for user authentication and access control. Remote attackers who exploit this vulnerability can gain full administrative privileges without proper credentials, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to directory entries. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it allows remote exploitation without requiring local system access, making it highly attractive to malicious actors. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it enables attackers to leverage legitimate administrative access paths for unauthorized activities.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2002-2279 requires immediate remediation through software updates or patches provided by the vendor, as the vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanism of the application. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to directory services and apply the latest security updates to prevent exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized authentication attempts and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and highlights the need for regular security assessments of directory services to identify and remediate authentication bypass flaws before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.