CVE-2014-6232 in LDAP
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the LDAP (eu_ldap) extension before 2.8.18 for TYPO3 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6232 affects the LDAP extension within TYPO3 content management systems, specifically versions prior to 2.8.18. This issue represents a critical information disclosure flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to access sensitive data through unspecified vectors within the LDAP integration functionality. The vulnerability exists within the eu_ldap extension component that facilitates Lightweight Directory Access Protocol connectivity for user authentication and directory services within TYPO3 installations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access controls within the LDAP extension's processing mechanisms. When authenticated users interact with LDAP functionality, the system fails to properly sanitize or restrict data access, potentially allowing unauthorized information retrieval from directory services. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers who have already established authentication credentials to escalate their access and extract sensitive information that should remain protected. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple potential entry points within the LDAP extension's codebase where input handling fails to properly validate or sanitize user-provided data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on TYPO3 for their web presence and user management systems. The ability for authenticated users to obtain sensitive information through LDAP connections could lead to exposure of user credentials, directory structure details, organizational hierarchies, and potentially system architecture information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather intelligence for further attacks, potentially compromising the entire directory service infrastructure and related applications that depend on LDAP for authentication. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it could facilitate privilege escalation or serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks against the broader system environment.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to TYPO3 version 2.8.18 or later, which includes patches addressing this information disclosure vulnerability. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all LDAP-enabled systems to identify potential exploitation attempts and monitor for unusual access patterns that might indicate unauthorized information retrieval. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, while regular security assessments of third-party extensions should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and reconnaissance activities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures across multiple security domains.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in directory service integrations. Organizations should implement robust monitoring solutions that track LDAP activity and flag anomalous information retrieval patterns, while also ensuring that all third-party extensions undergo thorough security reviews before deployment. Regular security training for administrators and developers regarding secure coding practices for directory service integrations remains essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations.