CVE-2022-31085 in LDAP Account Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 06/28/2022
LDAP Account Manager (LAM) is a webfrontend for managing entries (e.g. users, groups, DHCP settings) stored in an LDAP directory. In versions prior to 8.0 the session files include the LDAP user name and password in clear text if the PHP OpenSSL extension is not installed or encryption is disabled by configuration. This issue has been fixed in version 8.0. Users unable to upgrade should install the PHP OpenSSL extension and make sure session encryption is enabled in LAM main configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2022
LDAP Account Manager represents a widely-used web-based interface for managing directory services through LDAP protocols, serving organizations that require centralized user and group administration. The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-31085 stems from a critical flaw in session management that exposes authentication credentials in plaintext. This weakness specifically affects versions prior to 8.0 where the application fails to properly encrypt session data when the PHP OpenSSL extension is either not installed or explicitly disabled through configuration settings. The flaw creates a direct pathway for credential exposure since session files containing LDAP usernames and passwords are stored in clear text format, fundamentally undermining the security of the authentication mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage of credentials. When the PHP OpenSSL extension is unavailable or disabled, LAM falls back to insecure session handling practices that store authentication tokens without proper encryption. This creates an attack surface where malicious actors with access to the server filesystem can directly read session files and extract valid LDAP credentials. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic failure in cryptographic implementation where the application does not properly validate the availability of required security extensions before proceeding with insecure operations. This issue particularly impacts environments where security configurations are not properly enforced or where legacy systems lack modern cryptographic capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential lateral movement within network environments and unauthorized access to critical directory services. Attackers who gain access to session files can leverage the extracted credentials to authenticate to other systems that rely on the same LDAP directory, creating a cascading security risk. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that maintain multiple systems dependent on shared directory services, as compromised credentials can provide access to numerous network resources. The attack vector represents a significant concern in environments where physical server access might be compromised or where inadequate security monitoring allows unauthorized file system access to go undetected.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate remediation measures including upgrading to LAM version 8.0 or later where the issue has been properly addressed. The recommended mitigation strategy involves ensuring that the PHP OpenSSL extension is installed and enabled on the server hosting LAM, with session encryption explicitly configured in the main LAM configuration files. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their LDAP infrastructure to identify any systems that might be running vulnerable versions of LAM and ensure proper cryptographic extensions are available. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access to session files and establish network segmentation controls to limit the potential impact of credential compromise. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of cryptographic security in web applications and demonstrates how the absence of proper security extensions can lead to complete authentication bypass scenarios. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a credential access technique under T1566, highlighting the exploitation of weak session management to obtain unauthorized access to privileged accounts.