# CVE-2026-14940: 389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: heap-buffer-overflow in dn normalization via quoted multivalued rdn

Status: published. Published: 2026-07-07. Updated: 2026-11-05.

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.

## Remediation

- workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability. (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

## NVD configuration conditions

Affected CPE matches depend on the following AND/OR and negation conditions:

```json
[
  {
    "negate": false,
    "nodes": [
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:redhat:directory_server:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:redhat:directory_server:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:redhat:directory_server:13.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:389_directory_server:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          },
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "vulnerable": true
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ],
    "operator": "OR"
  }
]
```

## Severity and prioritization

- 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; source: CNA: redhat

- 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; source: NVD: nvd@nist.gov

- 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; source: NVD: secalert@redhat.com

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.49% as of 2026-11-05; percentile 42.10%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable yes; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-122

## Exploit evidence

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

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-14940 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2497697 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-14940 (secalert@redhat.com; Vendor Advisory)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2497697 (secalert@redhat.com; Issue Tracking, Vendor Advisory)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-14940; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated 2026-11-05

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-14940; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated 2026-11-05

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-14940; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated Not reported

Revision: 483dc47783a95fd7835def1a0841192018db5a995c32609212dd5382005f3953

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