CVE-2026-14969 in 389-ds-base
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2026
A flaw was found in 389-ds-base where the LDBM backend attribute encryption uses a hardcoded static initialization vector for AES-CBC and 3DES-CBC operations, allowing an attacker with privileged filesystem access to detect plaintext equality across encrypted entries by comparing ciphertext blocks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2026
The vulnerability resides in the 389-ds-base directory server implementation where the LDBM backend employs attribute encryption mechanisms that suffer from a critical cryptographic flaw involving hardcoded static initialization vectors. This weakness affects both AES-CBC and 3DES-CBC encryption operations, creating a fundamental security degradation that undermines the confidentiality guarantees of encrypted data. The issue manifests when attackers with privileged filesystem access can correlate ciphertext blocks across different encrypted entries to determine whether corresponding plaintext values are identical, effectively breaking the semantic security properties expected from proper encryption implementations.
The technical root cause stems from the implementation of cipher block chaining modes where static initialization vectors are hardcoded rather than being randomly generated for each encryption operation. This violates established cryptographic best practices and directly contravenes the principles outlined in CWE-329 which addresses the use of predictable initialization vectors in encryption implementations. The flaw enables what cryptographers term "ciphertext equality detection" attacks, where adversaries can infer information about plaintext values by analyzing patterns in encrypted data blocks. In the context of directory services, this vulnerability allows attackers to correlate user attributes across different entries, potentially revealing sensitive relationships or identifying specific individuals based on shared attribute values.
The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to compromise the fundamental security assumptions of encrypted attribute storage within directory services. When an attacker can determine that two entries contain identical plaintext values without decrypting them, they gain significant insight into organizational data structures and user relationships. This vulnerability particularly affects scenarios where directory servers store sensitive attributes such as employee identifiers, account numbers, or other personally identifiable information that may be expected to remain confidential even when encrypted. The attack vector requires privileged filesystem access, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, suggesting the threat model includes insider threats or compromised administrative accounts.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in cryptographic implementations. The primary fix involves implementing proper random initialization vector generation for each encryption operation rather than relying on hardcoded values, which directly addresses CWE-329 requirements for secure cryptographic implementation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security including access controls that limit filesystem exposure, regular cryptographic audits, and ensuring that all encryption implementations follow established standards such as NIST SP 800-38A for block cipher modes of operation. The solution requires careful attention to the specific LDBM backend implementation details and may necessitate updates to the directory server software or custom patches to properly randomize IV generation while maintaining backward compatibility with existing encrypted data structures.