Red Hat Directory Server/Enterprise Linux 389 Directory Server improper authentication

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as very critical has been identified in Red Hat Directory Server and Enterprise Linux. The affected element is an unknown function of the component 389 Directory Server. Such manipulation leads to improper authentication. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-18922. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Red Hat Directory Server and Enterprise Linux (unknown version) and classified as very critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown code block of the component 389 Directory Server. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper authentication vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-287. When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A flaw was found in 389 Directory Server. During SASL PLAIN authentication, a stale identity carried in a Cyrus SASL auxiliary property from a prior failed bind attempt can be installed on a connection following a subsequent, unrelated successful bind, regardless of which SASL mechanism completes that second bind. An attacker can send a SASL PLAIN bind as cn=Directory Manager with an incorrect password, then complete a SASL ANONYMOUS bind on the same connection, causing the server to grant Directory Manager authority without any valid credentials. A variant using a valid low-privileged account's own successful bind instead of an anonymous one is also possible.

The advisory is available at access.redhat.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-18922 since 08/05/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/07/2026).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

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Productinfo

Type

• Directory Service Software

Vendor

• Red Hat

Name

• Directory Server
• Enterprise Linux

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.redhat.com/

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