CVE-2022-1949 in 389-ds-base
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2022
An access control bypass vulnerability found in 389-ds-base. That mishandling of the filter that would yield incorrect results, but as that has progressed, can be determined that it actually is an access control bypass. This may allow any remote unauthenticated user to issue a filter that allows searching for database items they do not have access to, including but not limited to potentially userPassword hashes and other sensitive data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2024
The CVE-2022-1949 vulnerability represents a critical access control bypass in the 389 Directory Server base implementation, specifically affecting the handling of LDAP search filters within the directory service infrastructure. This flaw exists within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the 389-ds-base software, which serves as a foundational component for enterprise directory services and identity management systems. The vulnerability stems from improper filter processing that allows unauthorized access to directory content, fundamentally compromising the security posture of systems relying on this software for user authentication and access control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the LDAP filter parsing layer where the software fails to properly validate or sanitize search filters submitted by clients. When processing certain malformed or crafted filters, the system incorrectly evaluates access permissions, allowing unauthenticated users to bypass normal authentication requirements. This misconfiguration creates a path where remote attackers can construct specific LDAP search operations that traverse access control lists and retrieve directory entries that should normally be restricted to authorized users only. The flaw operates at the application level within the directory service's query processing engine, making it particularly dangerous as it affects the core security mechanisms of the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables comprehensive unauthorized access to sensitive directory data including userPassword hashes, personal information, and potentially system credentials. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can enumerate user accounts, extract authentication credentials, and potentially escalate their privileges within the directory service environment. This represents a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure since directory services often serve as central repositories for user identities, access controls, and authentication data that underpin numerous other security systems and applications within the organization.
Security professionals should prioritize this vulnerability as it directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the CWE-284 access control weakness category, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as it enables attackers to gain access to legitimate user credentials without proper authentication. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor patches, configuring additional access controls, and monitoring for suspicious LDAP search activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control enforcement in directory services, as outlined in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls related to access control management and authentication services.