CVE-2018-12689 in phpLDAPadmin
Summary
by MITRE
phpLDAPadmin 1.2.2 allows LDAP injection via a crafted server_id parameter in a cmd.php?cmd=login_form request, or a crafted username and password in the login panel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-12689 represents a critical LDAP injection flaw in phpLDAPadmin version 1.2.2 that fundamentally compromises the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the web-based directory management tool. This vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's handling of user-provided parameters, specifically targeting the server_id parameter in cmd.php requests and the username and password fields in the login interface. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate LDAP queries through maliciously crafted input, potentially gaining unauthorized access to directory services or executing arbitrary LDAP operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the server_id parameter in the cmd.php?cmd=login_form endpoint, where the application fails to properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into LDAP search queries. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to the login panel where crafted username and password values can be used to inject malicious LDAP syntax into the authentication process. This dual attack surface significantly increases the exploitability of the vulnerability, as attackers can leverage either the command parameter injection or the credential injection vectors to compromise the system. The flaw directly maps to CWE-91 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in an LDAP query, a condition that occurs when user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being used in LDAP operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-12689 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely, gain access to sensitive directory information, or perform unauthorized operations within the LDAP directory service. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to enumerate users, modify directory entries, create new accounts, or even escalate privileges within the directory infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on phpLDAPadmin for managing their LDAP directory services, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the authentication system. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1078 Valid Accounts and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as attackers can leverage the injection to gain unauthorized access or elevate their privileges within the directory environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-provided parameters, particularly those used in LDAP queries. The recommended approach involves implementing proper LDAP escaping functions to neutralize special characters that could be used in injection attacks, as well as enforcing strict parameter validation for the server_id and authentication fields. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious LDAP injection patterns, and should ensure that phpLDAPadmin is updated to version 1.2.3 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing least privilege principles for directory service accounts to minimize the potential damage from successful exploitation of this vulnerability.