CVE-2026-9064

389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: unbounded ldap controls count in get_ldapmessage_controls_ext() causes cpu and heap amplification (remote dos)

Published May 20, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in 389-ds-base. The get_ldapmessage_controls_ext() function in the LDAP server does not enforce an upper bound on the number of controls per LDAP message. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can send a specially crafted LDAP request containing hundreds of thousands of minimal controls within the default maximum BER message size (2 MB), causing excessive CPU consumption and heap allocation on the server. Under concurrent exploitation, this leads to significant latency degradation, worker thread starvation, or out-of-memory termination, resulting in a denial of service.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Restrict network access to the LDAP port (389/tcp, 636/tcp) to trusted networks only using firewall rules or network ACLs. This prevents untrusted remote attackers from reaching the vulnerable code path. Optionally, lower the nsslapd-maxbersize configuration parameter to reduce the maximum BER message size accepted by the server. Note that this caps bytes, not the number of controls, and does not fully eliminate the amplification. Setting it too low may impact legitimate LDAP operations with large payloads.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6 cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_els:6
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server:13.2::el10
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server_e4s:11.7::el8
cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server_e4s:12.2::el9
cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server_e4s:12.4::el9
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat directory Server E4s
Redhat enterprise Linux Eus
Redhat rhel Aus
Redhat rhel E4s
Redhat rhel Els
Redhat rhel Eus
Redhat rhel Eus Long Life
Redhat rhel Tus
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server:11
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server:11.9::el8
cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server_e4s:11.5::el8
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9::crb
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_aus:8.4::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_aus:8.6::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_e4s:8.8::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_e4s:9.2::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_e4s:9.4::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus:9.6::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus:9.6::crb
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus_long_life:8.4::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus_long_life:8.6::appstream
cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_tus:8.8::appstream
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.2
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:10.0
cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_els:7
Vendors & Products Redhat directory Server E4s
Redhat enterprise Linux Eus
Redhat rhel Aus
Redhat rhel E4s
Redhat rhel Els
Redhat rhel Eus
Redhat rhel Eus Long Life
Redhat rhel Tus
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat 389 Directory Server
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:redhat:directory_server:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:directory_server:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:redhat:directory_server:13.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:389_directory_server:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Redhat 389 Directory Server
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat redhat Directory Server
Vendors & Products Redhat redhat Directory Server
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in 389-ds-base. The get_ldapmessage_controls_ext() function in the LDAP server does not enforce an upper bound on the number of controls per LDAP message. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can send a specially crafted LDAP request containing hundreds of thousands of minimal controls within the default maximum BER message size (2 MB), causing excessive CPU consumption and heap allocation on the server. Under concurrent exploitation, this leads to significant latency degradation, worker thread starvation, or out-of-memory termination, resulting in a denial of service.
Title 389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: unbounded ldap controls count in get_ldapmessage_controls_ext() causes cpu and heap amplification (remote dos)
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat directory Server
Redhat enterprise Linux
Weaknesses CWE-770
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server:11
cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server:12
cpe:/a:redhat:directory_server:13
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat directory Server
Redhat enterprise Linux
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}