CVE-2026-14940
389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: heap-buffer-overflow in dn normalization via quoted multivalued rdn
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a Distinguished Name (DN) that contains a legacy-quoted value encoding a multivalued nested Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), the server can write past the end of a heap allocation while sorting RDN attribute-value pairs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this condition by sending an LDAP operation whose DN reaches the DN normalization routine, such as a search with a crafted base DN. This can corrupt heap memory and may cause denial of service.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: heap-buffer-overflow in dn normalization via quoted multivalued rdn
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a Distinguished Name (DN) that contains a legacy-quoted value encoding a multivalued nested Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), the server can write past the end of a heap allocation while sorting RDN attribute-value pairs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this condition by sending an LDAP operation whose DN reaches the DN normalization routine, such as a search with a crafted base DN. This can corrupt heap memory and may cause denial of service.
- Record
CVE-2026-14940- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-122
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
EUVDEUVD-2026-42042
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a Distinguished Name (DN) that contains a legacy-quoted value encoding a multivalued nested Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), the server can write past the end of a heap allocation while sorting RDN attribute-value pairs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this condition by sending an LDAP operation whose DN reaches the DN normalization routine, such as a search with a crafted base DN. This can corrupt heap memory and may cause denial of service.
- Record
EUVD-2026-42042- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-05
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-868f-j5w9-5jgm
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a...
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a Distinguished Name (DN) that contains a legacy-quoted value encoding a multivalued nested Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), the server can write past the end of a heap allocation while sorting RDN attribute-value pairs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this condition by sending an LDAP operation whose DN reaches the DN normalization routine, such as a search with a crafted base DN. This can corrupt heap memory and may cause denial of service.
- Record
GHSA-868f-j5w9-5jgm- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-122
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a Distinguished Name (DN) that contains a legacy-quoted value encoding a multivalued nested Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), the server can write past the end of a heap allocation while sorting RDN attribute-value pairs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this condition by sending an LDAP operation whose DN reaches the DN normalization routine, such as a search with a crafted base DN. This can corrupt heap memory and may cause denial of service.
- Record
CVE-2026-14940- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-122
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-14940
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a Distinguished Name (DN) that contains a legacy-quoted value encoding a multivalued nested Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), the server can write past the end of a heap allocation while sorting RDN attribute-value pairs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this condition by sending an LDAP operation whose DN reaches the DN normalization routine, such as a search with a crafted base DN. This can corrupt heap memory and may cause denial of service.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-14940- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-14940
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a Distinguished Name (DN) that contains a legacy-quoted value encoding a multivalued nested Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), the server can write past the end of a heap allocation while sorting RDN attribute-value pairs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this condition by sending an LDAP operation whose DN reaches the DN normalization routine, such as a search with a crafted base DN. This can corrupt heap memory and may cause denial of service.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-14940- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-92189 No score
CVE-2026-14940 affecting package 389-ds-base 3.1.1-12
A heap-buffer-overflow flaw was found in 389 Directory Server (389-ds-base). When normalizing a Distinguished Name (DN) that contains a legacy-quoted value encoding a multivalued nested Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), the server can write past the end of a heap allocation while sorting RDN attribute-value pairs. An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger this condition by sending an LDAP operation whose DN reaches the DN normalization routine, such as a search with a crafted base DN. This can corrupt heap memory and may cause denial of service.
- Record
AZL-92189- Updated
- 2026-11-05
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
389-ds-baseAzure Linux:3 |
through 3.1.1-12 | None known |
389-ds-baseDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.1+dfsg1-12.3.1+dfsg1-1+deb12u12.3.4+dfsg1-12.3.4+dfsg1-1.12.4.4+dfsg1-1 Show 13 moreShow less2.4.4+dfsg1-32.4.5+dfsg1-13.0.2+dfsg1-13.1.1+dfsg1-13.1.1+dfsg1-23.1.1+dfsg1-33.1.2+dfsg1-13.1.2+vendor1-13.1.2+vendor1-23.3.0-13.3.0-23.3.1-13.3.1-3 |
None known |
389-ds-baseDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.2+dfsg1-13.1.2+dfsg1-1+deb13u13.1.2+vendor1-13.1.2+vendor1-23.3.0-13.3.0-23.3.1-13.3.1-3 |
None known |
389-ds-baseUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.3.3.12-1build11.3.3.13-11.3.4.5-21.3.4.8-11.3.4.8-3 Show 4 moreShow less1.3.4.8-3ubuntu11.3.4.8-41.3.4.9-11.3.4.9-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
389-ds-baseUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.3.7.5-11.3.7.5-1build11.3.7.5-1build21.3.7.9-11.3.7.10-11.3.7.10-1ubuntu11.3.7.10-1ubuntu1+esm1 |
None known |
389-ds-baseUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.4.1.6-41.4.1.6-4build11.4.2.4-11.4.2.4-1build11.4.3.2-11.4.3.2-1build11.4.3.6-21.4.3.6-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
389-ds-baseUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.4.4.11-2build11.4.4.11-2build21.4.4.17-12.0.11-22.0.14-12.0.15-12.0.15-1ubuntu2 |
None known |
389-ds-baseUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.4+dfsg1-12.4.4+dfsg1-1ubuntu12.4.4+dfsg1-1ubuntu42.4.4+dfsg1-32.4.5+dfsg1-1 |
None known |
389-ds-baseUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.2+dfsg1-1 |
None known |
389-ds-baseUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.2+vendor1-23.1.2+vendor1-2build13.3.1-3 |
None known |
389-ds-baseUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.1.2+dfsg1-13.1.2+vendor1-2 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | OSV | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-14940 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Redhat 389 Directory Server, published July 7, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.49%, the 42nd percentile. No source names a fixed version.