LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a widely used protocol for accessing and managing directory services. It is often employed for centralized authentication and authorization of users within an organization. However, just like other web technologies, LDAP is susceptible to security vulnerabilities, one of which is LDAP injection. In this blog, we will discuss LDAP injection, explain how to craft payloads and outline effective mitigation strategies.

LDAP injection is a type of attack that takes advantage of insecurely designed or implemented LDAP servers. LDAP servers are used to store and organize data in a hierarchical tree structure. They are often used to store user information, such as usernames, passwords, and contact information. LDAP injection attacks work by injecting malicious code into LDAP queries. This malicious code can then be executed by the LDAP server, allowing the attacker to gain unauthorized access to data or bypass authentication mechanisms.

To perform an LDAP injection attack, the attacker must first identify a vulnerable LDAP server. This can be done by scanning the internet for open LDAP ports. Once a vulnerable LDAP server has been identified, the attacker can then craft a malicious LDAP query. This query will contain the malicious code that the attacker wants to execute. The malicious query is then sent to the LDAP server. When the LDAP server executes the query, it will also execute the malicious code. This malicious code can then be used to gain unauthorized access to data or bypass authentication mechanisms.

To craft an LDAP injection payload, an attacker needs to understand the structure of LDAP queries and filters. The following is an example of a typical LDAP filter:

(&(uid=<username>)(userPassword={CLEAR}<password>))

In this example, the LDAP filter is used to search for a user with a specified username and password. If the filter returns a result, the user is considered authenticated.

An attacker can exploit this filter by injecting LDAP metacharacters into the input fields, such as the username or password. For example, the attacker could enter the following as a username:

*)(uid=*))(|(uid=*

By injecting this payload, the LDAP filter becomes:

(&(uid=*)(uid=*))(|(uid=*)(userPassword={CLEAR}<password>))

The modified filter will always return a result, allowing the attacker to bypass the authentication mechanism.

Let’s discuss more sophisticated and customized LDAP injection payload examples, let’s consider a few different scenarios:

Scenario 1: Retrieving data for all users

Suppose an application uses the following LDAP filter to search for a user with a specified email address:

(&(objectClass=person)(mail=<email>))

An attacker can inject the following payload into the email field to retrieve data for all users:

*)(objectClass=person)|

By injecting this payload, the LDAP filter becomes:

(&(objectClass=person)(mail=*)(objectClass=person))(|)

This modified filter will return all objects with the ‘person’ object class, effectively revealing data for all users.

Scenario 2: Bypassing group-based authorization

Imagine an application that checks whether a user belongs to a specific group by using the following LDAP filter:

(&(objectClass=group)(cn=<group_name>)(member=<user_dn>))

An attacker can inject the following payload into the group_name field to bypass the group membership check:

*)(objectClass=*)(

The modified LDAP filter becomes:

(&(objectClass=group)(cn=*)(objectClass=*)(member=<user_dn>))

In this case, the filter will return a result for any group with a matching member, allowing the attacker to bypass group-based authorization.

Scenario 3: Escalating privileges

Suppose an application uses the following LDAP filter to check if a user has admin privileges:

(&(objectClass=person)(uid=<username>)(isAdmin=TRUE))

An attacker can inject the following payload into the username field to escalate their privileges:

*)(isAdmin=*)(

By injecting this payload, the LDAP filter becomes:

(&(objectClass=person)(uid=*)(isAdmin=*)(isAdmin=TRUE))

This modified filter will return any user with the ‘isAdmin’ attribute set, allowing the attacker to escalate their privileges.

In each of these scenarios, the attacker crafts an LDAP injection payload by understanding the structure of LDAP queries and filters and manipulating them to achieve their desired outcome.

Mitigation Strategies

To protect against LDAP injection attacks, it is essential to implement proper input validation and sanitization techniques:

1. Validate and sanitize user input: Implement strict validation rules for user input, allowing only a whitelist of characters. Special characters like ‘*’, ‘(‘, and ‘)’ should be sanitized or escaped to avoid LDAP injection.
2. Use parameterized LDAP queries: Just like with SQL injection, using parameterized LDAP queries can prevent attackers from modifying the query structure. Parameterized queries separate user input from the query itself, ensuring that user input is treated as data rather than part of the query.
3. Use LDAP libraries with built-in protection: Some LDAP libraries have built-in protection against LDAP injection, such as the System.DirectoryServices.Protocols library in .NET. Using such libraries can help mitigate the risk of LDAP injection.
4. Limit permissions for LDAP service accounts: LDAP service accounts should have the least amount of privileges necessary for their intended function. By limiting the permissions of these accounts, you can reduce the potential damage caused by an LDAP injection attack.
5. Educate developers and administrators: Ensure that your development and administration teams are aware of LDAP injection and its potential consequences. Regular training and awareness programs can help keep your team up-to-date on the latest threats and mitigation strategies.

LDAP injection is a significant security risk that can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches. By understanding the nature of LDAP injection attacks and implementing robust input validation, parameterized queries, and other best practices, you can protect your organization from this type of vulnerability. Stay vigilant and keep your systems secure to minimize the risk of LDAP injection attacks.

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