CVE-2026-18922: 389-ds-base Improper Authentication

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-18922 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Improper Authentication vulnerability in 389-ds-base. EPSS estimates a 0.56% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 45.5% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 07-09-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 08-10-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A flaw was found in 389 Directory Server. During SASL PLAIN authentication, a stale identity carried in a Cyrus SASL auxiliary property from a prior failed bind attempt can be installed on a connection following a subsequent, unrelated successful bind, regardless of which SASL mechanism completes that second bind. An attacker can send a SASL PLAIN bind as cn=Directory Manager with an incorrect password, then complete a SASL ANONYMOUS bind on the same connection, causing the server to grant Directory Manager authority without any valid credentials. A variant using a valid low-privileged account's own successful bind instead of an anonymous one is also possible.

• CWE-287Improper AuthenticationWhen an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.