CVE-2010-2222 in 389 Directory Server
Summary
by MITRE
The _ger_parse_control function in Red Hat Directory Server 8 and the 389 Directory Server allows attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via a crafted search query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2222 represents a critical denial of service weakness within directory server implementations that affects both Red Hat Directory Server 8 and the 389 Directory Server software. This flaw resides in the _ger_parse_control function which processes control structures within LDAP search operations. The vulnerability manifests when maliciously crafted search queries are submitted to the directory server, triggering a NULL pointer dereference condition that ultimately results in service disruption. The issue demonstrates how seemingly benign parsing operations can become vectors for system instability when proper input validation and error handling mechanisms are absent.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the _ger_parse_control function where the server fails to properly validate or sanitize control parameters received during LDAP search operations. When an attacker submits a specially crafted search query containing malformed control structures, the parsing routine attempts to dereference a NULL pointer without proper null checks, leading to an immediate crash of the directory server process. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and can be classified as CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how insufficient error handling in parsing functions can create exploitable conditions that allow attackers to disrupt service availability.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2222 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of directory services that organizations rely upon for authentication, authorization, and identity management. Directory servers serve as foundational infrastructure components for enterprise networks, and their availability directly affects user access to resources, application authentication, and overall system security posture. When a directory server becomes unavailable due to this vulnerability, it can cascade into broader service outages affecting multiple applications and systems that depend on directory services for user authentication and access control. This vulnerability particularly impacts environments where 389 Directory Server or Red Hat Directory Server are deployed as primary identity management solutions, potentially affecting thousands of users and applications simultaneously.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor-provided patches and updates to address the NULL pointer dereference issue within the _ger_parse_control function. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of directory servers to untrusted networks and users. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that can detect abnormal search query patterns and anomalous LDAP traffic may help identify exploitation attempts before they succeed. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the denial of service category of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the availability of services through process termination. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to identify similar parsing vulnerabilities in other components of directory service infrastructure, as this represents a common class of flaws that can be exploited to disrupt critical enterprise services.