CVE-2016-6500 in OpenIDM
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified methods in the RACF Connector component before 1.1.1.0 in ForgeRock OpenIDM and OpenICF improperly call the SearchControls constructor with returnObjFlag set to true, which allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted serialized Java object, aka LDAP entry poisoning.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6500 represents a critical security flaw within the RACF Connector component of ForgeRock OpenIDM and OpenICF systems. This issue affects versions prior to 1.1.1.0 and stems from improper handling of Java serialization within the LDAP search functionality. The vulnerability manifests when the SearchControls constructor is called with the returnObjFlag parameter set to true, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote code execution through crafted serialized Java objects. This flaw exists at the intersection of Java deserialization vulnerabilities and LDAP injection attacks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise identity management environments where these components are extensively deployed.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the insecure deserialization of Java objects within the RACF Connector's LDAP search operations. When the returnObjFlag is set to true in the SearchControls constructor, it enables the retrieval of Java serialized objects from LDAP entries during search operations. Attackers can craft malicious LDAP entries containing specially crafted serialized Java objects that, when processed by the vulnerable component, trigger arbitrary code execution on the target system. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-502 which describes unsafe deserialization of untrusted data, and represents a classic example of how improper object handling can lead to remote code execution in enterprise identity management systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6500 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise within environments utilizing ForgeRock OpenIDM and OpenICF. Organizations relying on these components for identity management, authentication, and access control face significant risk as attackers could gain unauthorized access to sensitive user credentials, system resources, and potentially escalate privileges within the enterprise network. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or network proximity, making it particularly attractive for widespread exploitation. This risk is compounded by the fact that many identity management systems serve as central points of access control, potentially providing attackers with privileged access to multiple downstream systems and applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6500 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 1.1.1.0 or later, which addresses the improper SearchControls constructor usage. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable components to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring LDAP traffic for suspicious serialized object patterns and implementing strict input validation for all LDAP search operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python) and T1210 (Exploitation of Remote Services) as attackers would leverage the deserialization flaw to execute malicious code remotely. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their identity management infrastructure.