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CVE Record

CVE-2025-14905: 389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: remote code execution and denial of service via heap buffer overflow

A flaw was found in the 389-ds-base server. A heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the `schema_attr_enum_callback` function within the `schema.c` file. This occurs because the code incorrectly calculates the buffer size by summing alias string lengths without accounting for additional formatting characters. When a large number of aliases are processed, this oversight can lead to a heap overflow, potentially allowing a remote attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) or achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE).

HighCVSS 7.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2025-14905 is a high-severity flaw in 389-ds-base, used by Red Hat Directory Server and RHEL directory services. A specially handled schema alias condition can overflow memory, causing service failure or potentially code execution. Business urgency is highest where directory services are exposed to users with administrative or high-privilege access.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority infrastructure update, not an emergency internet-wide event based on current evidence. Directory services support authentication and business operations, so outages or compromise can have broad impact. Patch affected Red Hat directory servers within normal high-severity remediation timelines, faster for critical identity infrastructure.

Technical view

The issue is a heap buffer overflow in schema_attr_enum_callback in schema.c. Buffer size is miscalculated when processing many aliases because formatting characters are not accounted for. Red Hat scores it CVSS 7.2: network attack vector, low complexity, no user interaction, but high privileges required, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to affected Red Hat 389-ds-base or redhat-ds package streams listed by Red Hat, including RHEL 7 ELS, RHEL 8, RHEL 9, RHEL 10, and Red Hat Directory Server 11.x/12.x variants. Systems not running 389-ds-base or Red Hat Directory Server are not indicated as affected by the provided sources.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation. The CVSS vector requires high privileges, so realistic abuse likely depends on an attacker already having elevated directory-related access. Impact remains serious because successful exploitation may crash the directory service or potentially execute code.

Researcher notes

Key constraints: network-reachable, low complexity, high privileges required. The vulnerable path involves schema alias enumeration and heap allocation sizing. Provided sources identify affected Red Hat package streams and RHSA references, but do not provide exploit status, proof-of-concept evidence, or non-Red Hat affected products.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the applicable Red Hat security advisory update for each affected product stream.
  • Prioritize internet-accessible or business-critical directory servers first.
  • If immediate patching is delayed, review Red Hat guidance for supported workarounds or compensating controls.
  • Restrict administrative access to directory services to trusted networks and accounts.
  • Monitor directory server stability until remediation is complete.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems running 389-ds-base, redhat-ds:11, or redhat-ds:12 packages.
  • Compare installed package versions against Red Hat’s affected product list and advisories.
  • Confirm the relevant RHSA update is installed for each product stream.
  • Review directory server logs for unexplained crashes or schema-processing errors.
  • Document exceptions where vendor guidance or update availability is unclear.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-122: Exact CWE lookup

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description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Container behavior lookup

The affected technology mentions containers, so container-specific ATT&CK technique review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2025-14905 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.2 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
5Timeline events
1ADP providers
22Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.2CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9redhat

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.2High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2025-14905Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. Source timelineredhat

    Reported to Red Hat.

  2. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  3. Source timelineredhat

    Made public.

  4. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  5. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 11.5 E4S for RHEL 8redhat-ds:11, 8060020260303152239.0ca98e7eaffected
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 11.7 E4S for RHEL 8redhat-ds:11, 8080020260227193008.f969626eaffected
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 11.9 for RHEL 8redhat-ds:11, 8100020260312105752.37ed7c03affected
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 12.2 E4S for RHEL 9redhat-ds:12, 9020020260304180546.1674d574affected
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 12.4 EUS for RHEL 9redhat-ds:12, 9040020260225135630.1674d574affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10389-ds-base, 0:3.1.3-7.el10_1affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Support389-ds-base, 0:3.0.6-17.el10_0affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Support389-ds-base, 0:1.3.11.1-11.el7_9affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8389-ds:1.4, 8100020260312103235.25e700aaaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update Support389-ds:1.4, 8020020260303204738.dbc46ba7affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support389-ds:1.4, 8040020260303172348.96015a92affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-On389-ds:1.4, 8040020260303172348.96015a92affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support389-ds:1.4, 8060020260303144613.824efc52affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Telecommunications Update Service389-ds:1.4, 8060020260303144613.824efc52affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Update Services for SAP Solutions389-ds:1.4, 8060020260303144613.824efc52affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update Service389-ds:1.4, 8080020260227183930.6dbb3803affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services for SAP Solutions389-ds:1.4, 8080020260227183930.6dbb3803affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9389-ds-base, 0:2.7.0-10.el9_7affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Update Services for SAP Solutions389-ds-base, 0:2.0.14-5.el9_0affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions389-ds-base, 0:2.2.4-17.el9_2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update Support389-ds-base, 0:2.4.5-24.el9_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.6 Extended Update Support389-ds-base, 0:2.6.1-20.el9_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 13.1dirsrv/dirsrv-container-rhel10, 1772040913affected
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 12redhat-ds:12/389-ds-baseaffected
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 13389-ds-baseaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6389-ds-baseunknown
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-122

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.