CVE-2024-28766: IBM Security Directory Integrator Flaw

CVE-2024-28766 Overview

CVE-2024-28766 is an information disclosure vulnerability affecting IBM Security Directory Integrator 7.2.0 and IBM Security Verify Directory Integrator 10.0.0. The flaw allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to obtain sensitive information about directory contents. Disclosed directory data can support reconnaissance and follow-on attacks against the target environment. The issue is tracked under CWE-548, Exposure of Information Through Directory Listing.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated network attackers can retrieve sensitive directory information from affected IBM Security Directory Integrator deployments, enabling reconnaissance for subsequent attacks against the system.

Affected Products

• IBM Security Directory Integrator 7.2.0
• IBM Security Verify Directory Integrator 10.0.0
• Deployments exposing the integrator service over the network

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-27 - CVE-2024-28766 published to NVD
• 2025-07-14 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-28766

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability lets a remote attacker enumerate directory contents managed by IBM Security Directory Integrator and IBM Security Verify Directory Integrator. The product exposes structural or content information that should be restricted to authorized users. Because no authentication or user interaction is required, an attacker only needs network reachability to the affected service. Exposed data may include directory schema details, object naming, or other metadata that supports targeted attacks against identity infrastructure.

Root Cause

The defect maps to CWE-548, Exposure of Information Through Directory Listing. The integrator returns directory information in responses without enforcing sufficient access restrictions. As a result, sensitive content intended for authenticated administrators is reachable by external clients. IBM addressed the issue in a security update referenced in the IBM Support Page.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network against the integrator endpoint. An attacker sends crafted requests to the service and parses the responses for directory data. Successful retrieval impacts confidentiality only — integrity and availability are not affected. The disclosed information typically supports lateral movement, account targeting, or schema-aware injection attempts against backing LDAP directories.

No public proof-of-concept is available, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the IBM advisory for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-28766

Indicators of Compromise

• Unauthenticated requests to IBM Security Directory Integrator endpoints from external or unexpected source addresses.
• Anomalous response sizes from the integrator service indicating bulk directory data retrieval.
• Repeated enumeration-style request patterns targeting directory paths or schema objects.

Detection Strategies

• Inspect HTTP and LDAP traffic to the integrator service for requests that return directory listings without an authenticated session.
• Correlate access logs from IBM Security Directory Integrator with authentication events to flag unauthenticated reads.
• Apply network detection signatures for enumeration patterns against the integrator's listening ports.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward integrator and reverse-proxy logs to a centralized SIEM for retention and search.
• Alert on traffic to the integrator originating outside approved administrative networks.
• Track version banners and software inventory to confirm patched releases are deployed across all instances.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-28766

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the IBM-provided fix referenced in the IBM Support Page for affected versions 7.2.0 and 10.0.0.
• Restrict network access to the integrator service to trusted administrative subnets only.
• Audit recent access logs for unauthenticated directory queries since deployment.
• Rotate credentials and review directory data that may have been exposed to untrusted networks.

Patch Information

IBM has released remediation for IBM Security Directory Integrator 7.2.0 and IBM Security Verify Directory Integrator 10.0.0. Refer to the IBM Support Page for the specific fix pack, interim fix, or upgrade path applicable to your deployment.

Workarounds

• Place the integrator behind a reverse proxy that enforces authentication before requests reach the service.
• Use firewall rules or network segmentation to block untrusted clients from reaching the integrator port.
• Disable any directory listing or schema-exposure features not required for production operation.

# Example: restrict integrator access to a trusted admin subnet using iptables
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 1099 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 1099 -j DROP