CVE-2014-8182 in openldap
Summary
by MITRE
An off-by-one error leading to a crash was discovered in openldap 2.4 when processing DNS SRV messages. If slapd was configured to use the dnssrv backend, an attacker could crash the service with crafted DNS responses.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8182 represents a critical off-by-one error within the openldap 2.4 implementation that specifically affects the dnssrv backend functionality. This flaw exists in the handling of DNS SRV (Service) records which are essential for locating services within a domain. The vulnerability manifests when the slapd daemon processes crafted DNS responses that contain malformed SRV records, leading to memory corruption and subsequent service disruption. The issue stems from improper bounds checking during the parsing of DNS SRV message structures, where the software fails to properly validate the length of data fields before processing them. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which encompasses issues related to improper validation of array indices and bounds checking. The flaw enables a remote attacker to exploit the service by sending specially crafted DNS responses that trigger the off-by-one condition, resulting in a denial of service scenario that completely crashes the slapd process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it creates an avenue for attackers to systematically disable LDAP services within an organization's infrastructure. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, the slapd daemon terminates abruptly, requiring system administrators to restart the service manually or through automated recovery mechanisms. This disruption can have cascading effects throughout the network as LDAP is commonly used for authentication, authorization, and directory services across multiple applications and systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for remote code execution in certain configurations, though the primary impact remains service availability. Organizations relying on openldap for directory services face significant risk, as the attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed from any network location where DNS queries can be intercepted or spoofed. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, specifically targeting DNS protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8182 involve immediate patching of affected openldap installations to address the specific bounds checking issue in the dnssrv backend implementation. System administrators should also consider disabling the dnssrv backend if it is not actively required, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. Network-level protections such as DNS query filtering and monitoring for anomalous SRV record responses can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and network segmentation can limit the potential impact of successful attacks. Organizations should also review their LDAP configurations to ensure that unnecessary backend modules are disabled, following the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network services, particularly those handling external data sources like DNS responses. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed DNS SRV records attempting to trigger the vulnerability. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of LDAP service configurations to identify and remediate similar bounds checking issues throughout the organization's infrastructure.