Red Hat Directory Server/Enterprise Linux 389-ds-base cleartext transmission

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Red Hat Directory Server and Enterprise Linux. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component 389-ds-base. Such manipulation leads to cleartext transmission. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-86345. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Red Hat Directory Server and Enterprise Linux (the affected version unknown). It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is an unknown part of the component 389-ds-base. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a cleartext transmission vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-319. The product transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors. Impacted is confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

A flaw was found in 389-ds-base. The server does not discard plaintext bytes already buffered from a client connection when negotiating StartTLS, allowing an on-path attacker to inject a crafted LDAP message that is processed after the TLS upgrade and whose response is delivered to the client in place of the client's own pending operation's response, due to messageID collision. This can cause a client application to treat a failed authentication (bind) attempt as successful.

The advisory is shared for download at access.redhat.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-86345 since 09/07/2026. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 10/02/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1040.

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

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-91139). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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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VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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