CVE-2015-10027 in TTRSS-Auth-LDAP
Summary
by MITRE • 01/09/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in hydrian TTRSS-Auth-LDAP. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component Username Handler. The manipulation leads to ldap injection. Upgrading to version 2.0b1 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is a7f7a5a82d9202a5c40d606a5c519ba61b224eb8. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-217622 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10027 represents a critical ldap injection flaw within the hydrian TTRSS-Auth-LDAP component, specifically affecting the Username Handler functionality. This security weakness arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the authentication module, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the LDAP query execution process through crafted user inputs. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of authentication and directory service integration, where the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied credentials before incorporating them into LDAP search queries. Such a flaw fundamentally compromises the integrity of the authentication system and exposes underlying directory services to unauthorized access attempts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user credentials are processed through the Username Handler without proper sanitization of special LDAP metacharacters such as parentheses, asterisks, or other control characters. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious LDAP filter syntax that alters the intended query behavior, potentially enabling them to bypass authentication mechanisms, enumerate directory entries, or even execute unauthorized searches against the LDAP directory. This type of injection vulnerability aligns with CWE-91 and CWE-643 classifications, which specifically address improper neutralization of special elements used in LDAP queries and injection flaws in general. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple authentication bypass, as successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure, privilege escalation, or unauthorized access to sensitive directory information within the organization's infrastructure.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe, particularly in environments where TTRSS-Auth-LDAP serves as a critical authentication gateway for news readers or similar applications. Organizations relying on this component face potential unauthorized access to their directory services, which could result in data breaches, insider threats, or disruption of legitimate user access. The vulnerability affects the core authentication flow, meaning that any user attempting to log into systems utilizing this LDAP authentication module could potentially exploit the flaw to gain unauthorized access. This risk is compounded by the fact that LDAP injection attacks can often be performed without requiring prior authentication, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in publicly accessible environments or when the affected application serves external users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must prioritize immediate remediation through the recommended upgrade to version 2.0b1, which includes the specific patch identified by the commit hash a7f7a5a82d9202a5c40d606a5c519ba61b224eb8. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, proper escaping of LDAP special characters, and comprehensive testing of authentication flows. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other components that might be vulnerable to similar injection flaws, particularly those that interact with directory services. The remediation process should follow established security protocols and include testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in functionality while effectively addressing the underlying injection vulnerability. This case demonstrates the critical importance of validating user inputs in directory service integrations and highlights the need for robust security practices in authentication system design.