CVE-2006-0717 in Tivoli Directory Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Directory Server 6.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted LDAP request, as demonstrated by test 2532 in the ProtoVer Sample LDAP test suite.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0717 affects IBM Tivoli Directory Server version 6.0, representing a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited remotely by malicious actors. This vulnerability specifically targets the server's handling of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol requests, which form the backbone of directory services operations in enterprise environments. The issue manifests when the server processes a specially crafted LDAP request that triggers an unhandled exception or memory corruption, leading to an application crash and subsequent service disruption.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the LDAP processing components of the Tivoli Directory Server. When the server receives the malformed request, it fails to properly sanitize or reject the malformed data before attempting to process it, resulting in a buffer overflow condition or similar memory corruption issue. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered over the network without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt directory services.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise infrastructure since directory servers serve as critical components for user authentication, authorization, and identity management across organizations. The denial of service condition can result in widespread service disruption affecting multiple applications and systems that depend on the directory server for authentication. The attack can be executed through standard LDAP protocols, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to extended downtime, productivity losses, and potential business continuity issues, particularly in environments where directory services are heavily utilized for enterprise operations.
The attack vector for this vulnerability follows the patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1499, which covers network denial of service attacks. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting specific LDAP requests that bypass normal validation mechanisms and cause the server to crash. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through the standard LDAP port 389, making it difficult to distinguish from legitimate traffic. Organizations using IBM Tivoli Directory Server 6.0 should consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unusual LDAP traffic patterns, and deploying intrusion detection systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. The most effective mitigation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to supported versions of the software, as IBM has released fixes specifically addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms can help reduce the impact of potential attacks while permanent fixes are being deployed.