# CVE-2026-117548: 389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: null pointer dereference via modifydn using an attribute's schema alias name causes denial of service

Status: published. Published: 2026-10-29. Updated: 2026-11-04.

A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in 389-ds-base. This flaw occurs when a ModifyDN (rename) operation uses an attribute's schema alias name (such as "commonName") instead of its canonical name (such as "cn") as the new relative distinguished name. An authenticated attacker with the ModifyDN (rename) permission on the affected entry can use this flaw to crash the directory server, causing a denial of service.

## Remediation

- workaround: Administrators should review custom access control instructions (ACIs) and avoid granting the ModifyDN (rename) right to non-administrative principals unless specifically required. Restricting this right reduces exposure to this issue until a fixed package is available. Neither 389-ds-base's own default ACI templates nor Red Hat Identity Management (IdM/FreeIPA)'s default ACIs grant this right to non-administrative users, so deployments that have not customized their ACIs are not exposed. (source: CNA: redhat)

## Affected products and versions

- Red Hat / Red Hat Directory Server 11 (redhat-ds:11/389-ds-base): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Directory Server 12 (redhat-ds:12/389-ds-base): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Directory Server 13 (389-ds-base): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 (389-ds-base): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (389-ds-base): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (389-ds-base): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (389-ds:1.4/389-ds-base): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (389-ds-base): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 6.5 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H; source: CNA: redhat

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.33% as of 2026-11-03; percentile 26.85%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-476

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-117548 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2561778 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-117548; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated 2026-11-04

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-117548; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated Not reported

Revision: b27d8946fc09c1a356489ee9c3a76bd245384045f12b01ae3a24e8c597c30507

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-117548

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