CVE-2012-2668 in OpenLDAP
Summary
by MITRE
libraries/libldap/tls_m.c in OpenLDAP, possibly 2.4.31 and earlier, when using the Mozilla NSS backend, always uses the default cipher suite even when TLSCipherSuite is set, which might cause OpenLDAP to use weaker ciphers than intended and make it easier for remote attackers to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2668 resides within the OpenLDAP library implementation specifically in the tls_m.c file that handles Transport Layer Security operations when utilizing the Mozilla NSS backend. This flaw represents a critical configuration bypass that undermines the security posture of OpenLDAP deployments by allowing attackers to exploit weak cryptographic configurations. The issue manifests when administrators attempt to enforce specific cipher suites through the TLSCipherSuite configuration directive, yet the system continues to default to less secure cipher suites regardless of explicit configuration settings.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper handling of TLS cipher suite selection within the Mozilla NSS backend integration. When OpenLDAP processes TLS connections, it should respect the explicitly configured TLSCipherSuite parameter to ensure that only strong cryptographic algorithms are utilized for secure communication. However, the bug causes the system to ignore these configuration directives and instead fall back to Mozilla NSS's default cipher suite configuration, which typically includes older and weaker cryptographic algorithms that are vulnerable to modern cryptanalytic attacks.
This vulnerability creates significant operational impact for organizations relying on OpenLDAP for directory services and authentication. The exposure allows remote attackers to potentially downgrade TLS connections to use weaker cipher suites, making it easier to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, decrypt intercepted communications, and access sensitive information stored within the directory service. The weakness is particularly concerning because it operates silently without alerting administrators to the misconfiguration, leaving systems vulnerable to attacks that could compromise user credentials, authentication tokens, and other sensitive directory data.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and represents a failure in proper security configuration management. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this issue enables T1566 (Phishing) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) techniques by weakening the cryptographic security that protects directory services from unauthorized access. Organizations using affected versions of OpenLDAP should immediately upgrade to patched versions where the cipher suite configuration is properly respected. Additionally, administrators should verify that their TLS configurations are correctly applied and monitor for any indication that weak cipher suites are being negotiated during TLS handshakes, as this vulnerability effectively undermines the security controls that organizations implement to protect their directory services infrastructure.
The remediation approach requires immediate patching of OpenLDAP installations to versions that properly respect the TLSCipherSuite configuration directive. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring of TLS handshake behaviors to detect any instances where weak cipher suites are being selected despite explicit configuration directives. Security audits should verify that all TLS configurations are properly applied and that the system is not falling back to default insecure cipher suites. Organizations should consider implementing automated configuration management tools to ensure that cryptographic security settings remain consistent across all OpenLDAP deployments and that administrators cannot inadvertently introduce security weaknesses through configuration errors.