CVE-2008-2943 in Tivoli Directory Server
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in IBM Tivoli Directory Server (TDS) 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.15 allows remote authenticated administrators to cause a denial of service (ABEND) and possibly execute arbitrary code by using ldapadd to attempt to create a duplicate ibm-globalAdminGroup LDAP database entry. NOTE: the vendor states "There is no real risk of a vulnerability," although there are likely scenarios in which a user is allowed to make administrative LDAP requests but does not have the privileges to stop the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The CVE-2008-2943 vulnerability represents a critical double free memory corruption issue within IBM Tivoli Directory Server version 6.1.0.0 through 6.1.0.15. This vulnerability specifically affects authenticated administrators who possess the ability to perform LDAP operations, creating a significant security concern for organizations relying on this directory service. The flaw manifests when an attacker uses the ldapadd command to attempt to create a duplicate ibm-globalAdminGroup LDAP database entry, which triggers the memory corruption condition. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-415 Double Free, which occurs when the same memory location is freed twice during program execution, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within the Tivoli Directory Server's LDAP processing subsystem. When the server processes the duplicate entry creation attempt, it fails to properly manage the memory references associated with the global admin group entry, resulting in a double free condition. This memory corruption can manifest as an application abend or system crash, effectively creating a denial of service condition. However, the vulnerability presents additional concerns beyond simple service interruption, as the double free condition may allow for arbitrary code execution under certain circumstances, making it particularly dangerous for attackers who can leverage this weakness.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2943 extends beyond immediate service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks against the directory server infrastructure. Organizations using affected Tivoli Directory Server versions face risks of unauthorized access, data compromise, and system instability when administrators with sufficient privileges perform LDAP operations. The vendor's statement regarding minimal risk must be carefully evaluated, as the vulnerability's exploitation potential depends heavily on the specific permissions granted to users within the LDAP environment. In scenarios where users can make administrative LDAP requests without having the ability to stop the server, the attack surface becomes significantly larger, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or persistent access to directory services. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1499 for endpoint denial of service, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of IBM Tivoli Directory Server, restricting administrative LDAP privileges to only essential personnel, and monitoring LDAP operations for suspicious duplicate entry attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to directory services, establishing robust logging and alerting for LDAP administrative operations, and conducting regular security assessments of directory server configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in enterprise directory services and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication and authorization mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify abnormal LDAP activity patterns and ensure that administrative access controls follow the principle of least privilege to minimize potential exploitation scenarios.