Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2019-14824 is an information disclosure issue in 389-ds-base. In some configurations, an authenticated user with search permission could view private LDAP attributes, potentially including password hashes. The main risk is exposure of sensitive directory data, not direct system takeover.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate confidentiality risk for identity infrastructure. Prioritize patching where 389-ds-base stores password hashes or sensitive identity attributes and where broad authenticated search access exists.
Technical view
The flaw is in the 389-ds-base deref plugin. The source states it could use search permission to display attribute values, creating a CWE-732 permission-control issue. CVSS 3.0 is 6.5 with network access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where 389-ds-base is deployed with the deref plugin and ACLs protecting sensitive attributes. The attacker needs authenticated LDAP access. The source bundle does not specify exact affected versions, so inventory must be compared against vendor advisories.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of active exploitation. Practical risk depends on whether authenticated directory users can search entries whose dereferenced attributes include private values such as password hashes.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description, CVSS metadata, and vendor security-update references. Do not assume unauthenticated exploitation or specific affected versions from this bundle. Focus analysis on deref plugin behavior, ACL enforcement, and confidentiality impact.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the relevant Red Hat or Debian 389-ds-base security update for your supported release.
- Check vendor guidance before selecting fixed versions for other downstream builds.
- Review LDAP ACLs protecting password hashes and other private attributes.
- Restrict authenticated search permissions to the minimum required groups.
- Assess whether deref plugin exposure is necessary in sensitive directory contexts.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems running 389-ds-base and identify their operating system package source.
- Confirm installed package versions against the Red Hat and Debian security advisories.
- Review whether the deref plugin is enabled on exposed directory services.
- Audit LDAP ACLs for private attributes reachable through authenticated search paths.
- Check logs for unusual authenticated searches against sensitive directory attributes.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-732: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2019-14824 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.5 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N2.83.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- RHSA-2019:3981CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- [debian-lts-announce] 20191129 [SECURITY] [DLA 2004-1] 389-ds-base security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- RHSA-2020:0464CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14824CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/04/msg00026.htmlCVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.