CVE-2010-4786 in Tivoli Directory Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Tivoli Directory Server (TDS) 6.0 before 6.0.0.63 (aka 6.0.0.8-TIV-ITDS-IF0005) allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (daemon crash or hang) via a paged search, as demonstrated by a certain idsldapsearch command, related to an improper ibm-slapdIdleTimeOut configuration setting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4786 affects IBM Tivoli Directory Server version 6.0 before 6.0.0.63, representing a critical denial of service weakness that impacts the stability and availability of directory services. This vulnerability specifically manifests when authenticated remote users exploit improper configuration handling within the ibm-slapdIdleTimeOut parameter, which governs how long the directory server maintains idle connections before terminating them. The flaw enables attackers to trigger daemon crashes or system hangs through carefully crafted paged search operations, fundamentally compromising the directory service's operational integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of connection timeout configurations within the Tivoli Directory Server's LDAP daemon component. When users execute specific paged search commands using the idsldapsearch utility, the server fails to properly manage the ibm-slapdIdleTimeOut parameter, leading to resource exhaustion or internal state corruption. This misconfiguration allows maliciously constructed search operations to exploit the server's connection management logic, causing the daemon process to either terminate unexpectedly or become unresponsive, thereby denying legitimate users access to directory services. The vulnerability specifically leverages the server's response to certain search parameters that interact with idle connection handling mechanisms, creating a condition where the system cannot properly process subsequent requests.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on IBM Tivoli Directory Server for critical directory services infrastructure. The denial of service impact extends beyond simple service interruption, as directory servers typically serve as foundational components for authentication, authorization, and identity management across enterprise environments. When the ibm-slapd daemon becomes unresponsive or crashes, it affects not only the directory service itself but can cascade into broader system failures, potentially disrupting authentication services for applications, systems, and user access across the enterprise. The authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker must possess valid credentials, but this requirement does not significantly reduce the risk since legitimate users with compromised accounts or insider threats could exploit this weakness.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for IBM Tivoli Directory Server version 6.0.0.63 or higher, which addresses the improper ibm-slapdIdleTimeOut configuration handling. Additionally, administrators should review and properly configure idle timeout settings to prevent exploitation, ensuring that connection management parameters are set within reasonable limits to avoid resource exhaustion. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the attack surface by restricting who can execute ldapsearch operations against the directory server. Monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in search operations and connection behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and CWE-400, "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and maps to ATT&CK techniques including T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service," and T1566.002, "Phishing via Service Provider," as attackers may use compromised legitimate credentials to exploit this weakness. The incident response plan should include procedures for rapid patch deployment and system recovery protocols to minimize downtime and maintain directory service availability.