CVE-2016-5405 in Enterprise Linux Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
389 Directory Server in Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop 6 through 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node 6 through 7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 6 through 7, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 6 through 7 allows remote attackers to obtain user passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2022
The CVE-2016-5405 vulnerability affects the 389 Directory Server implementation across multiple Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions, representing a critical security flaw in identity management infrastructure. This vulnerability specifically targets the server's handling of password information, creating a pathway for remote attackers to extract user credentials. The 389 Directory Server serves as a core component in enterprise environments for managing directory services and authentication mechanisms, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it undermines fundamental security controls that protect user access.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of password attributes within the directory server's response processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness through carefully crafted LDAP queries that trigger the server to return password information in cleartext or in a format that reveals password hashes. This vulnerability operates at the protocol level, leveraging weaknesses in how the server processes and responds to authentication-related requests. The flaw essentially allows for information disclosure that bypasses normal authentication controls, enabling unauthorized access to user credential data without requiring legitimate credentials or session tokens.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5405 extends far beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems. Organizations utilizing 389 Directory Server for authentication and authorization face severe risks including lateral movement within networks, privilege escalation attacks, and potential complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple Red Hat Enterprise Linux variants including desktop, server, workstation, and HPC node deployments, indicating a widespread exposure across enterprise infrastructure. This creates cascading security implications as compromised credentials can be used to access multiple systems and services that rely on directory authentication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5405 require immediate patching of affected 389 Directory Server implementations, with updates addressing the specific information disclosure vulnerability in password handling. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also conducting comprehensive credential assessments to identify and reset compromised accounts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it enables unauthorized access through legitimate user credentials. Security monitoring should focus on unusual LDAP query patterns and unexpected password-related responses, while incident response procedures must include credential rotation and forensic analysis of compromised systems. Organizations should also review their directory service configurations to ensure proper access controls and implement additional authentication layers to reduce the impact of credential compromise.