---
id: CVE-2026-14940
title: >-
  389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: heap-buffer-overflow in dn normalization via quoted
  multivalued rdn
summary: >-
  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 w…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-122
vendor: Red Hat
product: 'redhat-ds:11/389-ds-base'
affected:
  - 'redhat-ds:11/389-ds-base (all versions)'
  - 'redhat-ds:12/389-ds-base (all versions)'
  - 389-ds-base (all versions)
  - 389-ds-base (all versions)
  - 389-ds-base
  - 389-ds-base (all versions)
  - '389-ds:1.4/389-ds-base (all versions)'
  - 389-ds-base (all versions)
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'yes'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-07-07T15:35:34.392277Z'
published: '2026-07-07'
updated: '2026-11-05'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-05T16:41:44.076Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-14940'
references:
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-14940'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2497697'
    label: RHBZ#2497697
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00487
epssPercentile: 0.42096
ingestedAt: '2026-11-05T22:38:31.387Z'
---

## Overview

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.

## Affected

- `redhat-ds:11/389-ds-base (all versions)`
- `redhat-ds:12/389-ds-base (all versions)`
- `389-ds-base (all versions)`
- `389-ds-base (all versions)`
- `389-ds-base`
- `389-ds-base (all versions)`
- `389-ds:1.4/389-ds-base (all versions)`
- `389-ds-base (all versions)`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

### Workarounds

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.