CVE-2018-14648 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability was discovered in the 389 Directory Server that could lead to a denial of service attack due to excessive CPU usage.

Understanding CVE-2018-14648

What is CVE-2018-14648?

A flaw in the 389 Directory Server allows an unauthenticated attacker to trigger a denial of service by using a specially crafted search query that causes high CPU consumption.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14648

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.5 (High) with a high impact on availability. It requires low attack complexity and no privileges are needed for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14648

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the 389 Directory Server results in excessive CPU consumption in the do_search() function when a specific search query is used, enabling a denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: 389-ds-base
Vendor: [UNKNOWN]
Versions affected: n/a

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact: None
Integrity Impact: None
Availability Impact: High

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the security update provided by the vendor to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor CPU usage for any unusual spikes that could indicate a potential denial of service attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement proper access controls to limit unauthorized access to the 389 Directory Server.
Regularly review and update security configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the vendor advisories RHSA-2018:3507 and RHSA-2018:3127 for detailed patching instructions and updates.