CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-11788NVD status: Modified

Red Hat Directory Server 11.5 E4S for RHEL 8: NULL Pointer Dereference

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-11788 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Red Hat Directory Server 11.5 E4S for RHEL 8 from Red Hat, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.56% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Red Hat Directory Server 11.5 E4S for RHEL 8 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on access.redhat.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 11.5 E4S for RHEL 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 11.7 E4S for RHEL 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 11.9 for RHEL 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 12.2 E4S for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 12.4 E4S for RHEL 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-OnNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-OnNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update ServiceNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services for SAP SolutionsNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP SolutionsNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Update Services for SAP SolutionsNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.6 Extended Update SupportNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 12Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Directory Server 13Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6Not specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatDirectory Server11.0; 12.0; 13.0Not stated
Red Hat389 Directory ServerNot specified in the recordNot stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux7.0; 8.0; 9.0; 10.0Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.15.9MediumCNA (redhat.com)
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD

Official description

A flaw was found in 389 Directory Server. The dereference control plugin does not check for allocation failure before using a BER structure, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to crash the LDAP server when the system is under memory pressure.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
  • Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
  • Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.

More NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities (CWE-476)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Red Hat Directory Server 11.5 E4S for RHEL 8

All Red Hat Directory Server 11.5 E4S for RHEL 8 vulnerabilities

Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities

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