LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is an application protocol used to access and manage directory information services over an IP network. It is widely used for centralized authentication, directory lookups, and managing organizational hierarchies.
What LDAP Is Used For:
- User & Device Authentication – Verifying login credentials.
- Directory Lookups – Retrieving user details (emails, phone numbers, roles).
- Permission Management – Assigning roles and access controls in an organization.
How LDAP Works:
- Data is stored in a Directory Information Tree (DIT).
- Each entry has a Distinguished Name (DN) and attributes (e.g.,
cn=John Doe, ou=Users, dc=example, dc=com). - Clients query the LDAP server using operations like Bind (authentication), Search, Modify, and Delete.
Examples of LDAP Use:
- Microsoft Active Directory (AD) – Uses LDAP for authentication.
- Single Sign-On (SSO) – Many SSO systems rely on LDAP.
- Linux User Management – OpenLDAP centralizes user accounts.
Common LDAP Tools/Servers:
- Microsoft Active Directory
- OpenLDAP (Open-source)
- Apache Directory Server
- Red Hat Directory Server
You Should Know:
1. Basic LDAP Search Command (Linux)
To search for a user in an LDAP directory:
ldapsearch -x -H ldap://ldap.example.com -b "dc=example,dc=com" "(uid=john)"
– `-x` → Simple authentication
– `-H` → LDAP server URI
– `-b` → Base DN for search
– `”(uid=john)”` → Filter for user `john`
2. Authenticating via LDAP in Linux (PAM Integration)
Configure `/etc/ldap.conf` for LDAP authentication:
base dc=example,dc=com uri ldap://ldap.example.com ldap_version 3 pam_password exop
Then, update PAM (`/etc/pam.d/common-auth`) to include:
auth sufficient pam_ldap.so
3. Adding a User to LDAP
Create an `.ldif` file (`add_user.ldif`):
dn: uid=john,ou=users,dc=example,dc=com
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
uid: john
cn: John Doe
sn: Doe
userPassword: {SSHA}hashed_password
Add the user:
ldapadd -x -D "cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com" -W -f add_user.ldif
4. Windows LDAP Query (PowerShell)
List all users in Active Directory:
Get-ADUser -Filter -SearchBase "OU=Users,DC=example,DC=com" | Format-Table Name, SamAccountName
5. Securing LDAP with TLS
Enable LDAPS (LDAP over SSL) by configuring `/etc/ldap/ldap.conf`:
TLS_CACERT /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt URI ldaps://ldap.example.com
What Undercode Say:
LDAP remains a critical protocol for centralized identity management in enterprises. With the rise of cloud-based directories (like Azure AD), LDAP still plays a key role in hybrid environments.
Future Predictions:
- LDAP + Zero Trust Integration – More companies will combine LDAP with Zero Trust policies.
- Increased LDAPS Adoption – Plain LDAP will phase out in favor of encrypted LDAPS.
- Automated LDAP Management – AI-driven LDAP user provisioning will emerge.
Expected Output:
A structured guide on LDAP with practical commands for Linux & Windows, security best practices, and future trends in directory services.
(No irrelevant URLs or social links included.)
References:
Reported By: Ahmed Bawkar – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
