---
id: CVE-2026-14969
title: >-
  389-ds-base: 389-ds-base: static initialization vector in aes-cbc/3des-cbc
  attribute encryption
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in 389-ds-base where the LDBM backend attribute encryption
  uses a hardcoded static initialization vector for AES-CBC and 3DES-CBC
  operations, allowing an attacker with privileged filesystem access to detect
  plaintext equ…
severity: medium
cvss: 4.4
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-329
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: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-07-07T16:11:32.041523Z'
published: '2026-07-07'
updated: '2026-11-05'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-05T16:41:52.908Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-14969'
references:
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-14969'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2497735'
    label: RHBZ#2497735
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00106
epssPercentile: 0.01111
ingestedAt: '2026-11-05T22:38:31.388Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in 389-ds-base where the LDBM backend attribute encryption uses a hardcoded static initialization vector for AES-CBC and 3DES-CBC operations, allowing an attacker with privileged filesystem access to detect plaintext equality across encrypted entries by comparing ciphertext blocks.

## 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

Disable attribute encryption if it is not required for the deployment. If attribute encryption is required, restrict filesystem access to the LDBM database directory (/var/lib/dirsrv/slapd-<instance>/db/) to ensure only authorized administrators can read database files.