CVE-2012-2678 in 389 Directory Server
Summary
by MITRE
389 Directory Server before 1.2.11.6 (aka Red Hat Directory Server before 8.2.10-3), after the password for a LDAP user has been changed and before the server has been reset, allows remote attackers to read the plaintext password via the unhashed#user#password attribute.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2678 represents a critical security flaw in the 389 Directory Server implementation that affects versions prior to 1.2.11.6 and Red Hat Directory Server versions before 8.2.10-3. This issue specifically manifests during the password change process within the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) environment, creating a window of opportunity for remote attackers to extract plaintext credentials. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of password attributes during the transition period between old and new password states, where the system retains the original plaintext password in a specific attribute format.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the server's storage and handling of password attributes in memory or temporary storage during password modification operations. When a user's password is changed, the system should properly invalidate or clear the old plaintext password from accessible attributes. However, in affected versions, the unhashed#user#password attribute remains populated with the original plaintext credential values, making them accessible to authenticated or even unauthenticated remote attackers who can query this specific attribute path. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of credential handling and creates a persistent exposure window that extends until the server is restarted or the attribute is properly cleared.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations that rely on LDAP-based authentication systems for user management and access control. Attackers can leverage this weakness to obtain plaintext passwords for LDAP users without requiring additional privileges or complex exploitation techniques. The vulnerability essentially provides a direct path to credential theft that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms and password hashing protections. This exposure can lead to unauthorized access to directory services, potential lateral movement within networks, and compromise of other systems that depend on the compromised LDAP accounts for authentication. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user credentials, undermining the trust model of the directory service infrastructure and potentially enabling broader security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2678 should focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of 389 Directory Server and Red Hat Directory Server. Organizations must ensure their directory services are updated to versions that properly handle password attribute cleanup during the change process. System administrators should implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to LDAP attributes and establish regular auditing procedures to detect anomalous access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-256, which addresses "Incomplete Data Protection," and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for credential access through exploitation of directory services. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict access controls for LDAP attributes, enabling comprehensive logging of directory service operations, and conducting regular security assessments of authentication infrastructure to identify similar credential exposure vulnerabilities in related systems and services.