CVE-2009-3862 in eDirectory
Summary
by MITRE
The NDSD process in Novell eDirectory 8.7.3 before 8.7.3.10 ftf2 and eDirectory 8.8 before 8.8.5 ftf1 does not properly handle certain LDAP search requests, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application hang) via a search request with a NULL BaseDN value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3862 affects the NDSD process within Novell eDirectory software versions prior to specific patches. This issue represents a significant security concern as it enables remote attackers to disrupt service availability through carefully crafted LDAP search operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests in eDirectory versions 8.7.3 before 8.7.3.10 ftf2 and 8.8 before 8.8.5 ftf1, where the system fails to properly validate incoming search requests. The flaw occurs when processing LDAP search requests containing a NULL BaseDN value, which triggers an application hang condition that effectively renders the service unavailable to legitimate users.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the NDSD process's inadequate input validation procedures for LDAP search operations. When a search request is received with a NULL BaseDN parameter, the system's processing logic becomes unable to handle this malformed input gracefully. This improper handling causes the application to enter a state where it becomes unresponsive or hangs indefinitely, consuming system resources without properly terminating the request processing. The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper boundary checking and input sanitization within the LDAP search handling code path, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered remotely over the network.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe availability risk for organizations relying on Novell eDirectory services. The denial of service condition affects the entire directory service infrastructure, potentially disrupting authentication, authorization, and directory lookup functions across dependent applications and systems. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining service availability while the vulnerability exists, as attackers can easily exploit this condition to cause service interruptions that may last until the system is manually restarted or the patch is applied. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require local access or credentials to cause disruption, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" in software systems, and represents a classic example of how malformed input can lead to service disruption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to "Network Denial of Service" and could be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns targeting directory services. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-provided patches immediately to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability has been widely documented and exploited in the wild. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous LDAP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The incident highlights the importance of robust input validation practices and proper error handling in directory service implementations, particularly in mission-critical infrastructure components where availability is paramount.