CVE-2013-4485 in 389 Directory Server
Summary
by MITRE
389 Directory Server 1.2.11.15 (aka Red Hat Directory Server before 8.2.11-14) allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (crash) via multiple @ characters in a GER attribute list in a search request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The CVE-2013-4485 vulnerability affects the 389 Directory Server version 1.2.11.15, which is part of Red Hat Directory Server prior to version 8.2.11-14. This directory server implementation serves as a critical component in enterprise environments for storing and managing directory information, typically used for authentication, authorization, and user account management across various applications and services. The vulnerability specifically targets the server's handling of search requests containing specially crafted attribute lists that include multiple @ characters within a GER (Generalized Entry Reference) attribute specification.
The technical flaw resides in the server's parsing logic for search operations where it fails to properly validate or sanitize input containing multiple consecutive @ characters within GER attribute lists. When a remote authenticated user submits a search request with such malformed attribute specifications, the server's internal processing mechanism becomes overwhelmed or enters an undefined state, leading to a complete system crash and subsequent denial of service condition. This behavior represents a classic buffer overflow or parsing error vulnerability where the server's input validation mechanisms are insufficient to handle edge cases in attribute list construction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect critical enterprise infrastructure where directory services are fundamental to authentication processes. Organizations relying on 389 Directory Server for user management, single sign-on capabilities, and application integration would experience significant operational downtime when this vulnerability is exploited. The remote authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker with valid credentials can leverage this weakness to disrupt services without requiring physical access or elevated privileges beyond basic authentication. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where the directory server is used as a backend for multiple applications, as a single exploitation event can cascade into broader system outages.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4485 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 8.2.11-14 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized users have the ability to submit search requests to directory servers. Input validation mechanisms should be enhanced to detect and reject malformed attribute lists containing excessive @ characters, though this approach may be less reliable than patching. Monitoring and logging should be configured to detect unusual search patterns or repeated malformed requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and Validation of Input Characters, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious search request patterns and maintain regular backups to ensure rapid recovery from service disruption events.