CVE-2022-32757 in Security Directory Suite VA
Summary
by MITRE • 06/15/2023
IBM Security Directory Suite VA 8.0.1 through 8.0.1.19 uses an inadequate account lockout setting that could allow a remote attacker to brute force account credentials. IBM X-Force ID: 228510.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-32757 affects IBM Security Directory Suite VA versions 8.0.1 through 8.0.1.19, representing a critical weakness in authentication security mechanisms that directly impacts the protection of enterprise directory services. This issue stems from inadequate account lockout configurations that fail to properly enforce security controls against automated credential guessing attacks. The vulnerability exposes systems to remote brute force attacks where malicious actors can systematically attempt multiple login combinations without triggering effective account lockout mechanisms, potentially leading to unauthorized system access and privilege escalation. The affected IBM Security Directory Suite VA implementation demonstrates a fundamental flaw in access control enforcement that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on this directory service infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient account lockout threshold settings that allow attackers to perform repeated authentication attempts without triggering protective measures. This inadequate configuration creates a window of opportunity for credential stuffing and brute force attacks where attackers can exploit the lack of effective rate limiting or account lockout functionality to gain unauthorized access to directory services. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication process within the IBM Security Directory Suite VA, where proper account lockout mechanisms should be triggered after a predetermined number of failed authentication attempts but are instead configured with thresholds that are either too high or completely disabled. This misconfiguration aligns with common weaknesses documented in CWE-307, which addresses improper restriction of repeated authentication attempts, and represents a significant gap in the authentication security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise resources. Organizations utilizing affected IBM Security Directory Suite VA versions face increased risk of successful brute force attacks against user accounts, particularly when attackers can leverage the lack of effective account lockout mechanisms to systematically target privileged accounts. The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially compromise directory services that serve as foundational components for enterprise authentication, authorization, and access control systems. This creates cascading security risks where successful exploitation can lead to broader network compromise, as directory services often provide centralized access control for multiple systems and applications within enterprise environments. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from external networks without requiring physical access or insider knowledge, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed directory services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-32757 should focus on implementing proper account lockout configurations with appropriate threshold settings that effectively prevent brute force attacks while minimizing legitimate user disruption. Organizations must immediately update to patched versions of IBM Security Directory Suite VA that address the inadequate account lockout settings, with the specific fix available in version 8.0.1.20 or later releases. Security administrators should configure robust account lockout policies with appropriate thresholds, typically set between 3-5 failed attempts before lockout, combined with reasonable lockout durations that balance security with user accessibility. Additional protective measures include implementing multi-factor authentication, network segmentation to limit access to directory services, and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns that might indicate brute force attack attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication security configuration and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for Brute Force, highlighting the need for comprehensive authentication security controls that prevent automated credential guessing attacks through proper account lockout mechanisms and rate limiting. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify other potential authentication weaknesses in their directory services infrastructure and implement layered security controls to protect against similar vulnerabilities.