LDAP Injection in Laravel: A Security Guide with Fixes & Examples

Introduction

LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is widely used for authentication and directory services in web applications. However, when developers fail to properly sanitize user input, LDAP Injection vulnerabilities can arise, allowing attackers to manipulate LDAP queries and gain unauthorized access.

In this article, we’ll explore LDAP Injection in Laravel, how it works, and how to fix it with secure coding practices. We’ll also demonstrate the impact of this vulnerability with coding examples and show how to test your website using our free Website Security Checker.

What is LDAP Injection?

LDAP Injection is a type of attack where malicious input is inserted into LDAP queries, modifying their behavior. Similar to SQL Injection, this attack occurs when user input is concatenated directly into an LDAP query without proper sanitization.

Example of LDAP Query Vulnerability

Consider the following Laravel authentication function that searches for a user in an LDAP directory:

$username = $_POST['username'];
$password = $_POST['password'];

$ldapConn = ldap_connect("ldap://example.com");
ldap_set_option($ldapConn, LDAP_OPT_PROTOCOL_VERSION, 3);
ldap_bind($ldapConn);
$search = ldap_search($ldapConn, "ou=users,dc=example,dc=com", "(uid=$username)");
$result = ldap_get_entries($ldapConn, $search);
if ($result["count"] > 0) {
    echo "User found!";
} else {
    echo "User not found!";
}

What’s Wrong?

The $username parameter is taken directly from user input without validation, allowing attackers to inject LDAP-specific characters and manipulate the query.

Example of LDAP Injection Attack:

An attacker could input:

*)(|(uid=*))(

This expands the query to:

(uid=*)(|(uid=*))

which effectively bypasses authentication, returning all users from the directory.

How to Prevent LDAP Injection in Laravel?

1. Use Parameterized Queries (Avoid String Concatenation)

Instead of inserting user input directly into queries, use safe parameterized LDAP filters:

$username = ldap_escape($_POST['username'], '', LDAP_ESCAPE_FILTER);

$search = ldap_search($ldapConn, "ou=users,dc=example,dc=com", "(uid=$username)");

This escapes special characters, preventing injection attacks.

2. Input Validation and Sanitization

Ensure that user input matches expected formats:

if (!preg_match('/^[a-zA-Z0-9_.-]+$/', $_POST['username'])) {
    die("Invalid input");
}

3. Limit Privileges of LDAP Accounts

Always use a low-privilege LDAP account for queries. If an attack occurs, the impact will be limited.

ldap_bind($ldapConn, "cn=readonly,dc=example,dc=com", "readonly-password");

4. Implement Secure Authentication Mechanisms

Instead of handling LDAP authentication manually, use Laravel’s built-in authentication or an LDAP authentication package like:

composer require directorytree/ldaprecord-laravel

Configure it in config/auth.php:

'providers' => [
    'users' => [
        'driver' => 'ldap',
        'model'  => LdapRecord\Models\ActiveDirectory\User::class,
    ],
],

This abstracts the authentication logic, reducing the risk of LDAP Injection.

Testing for LDAP Injection with Our Free Security Tool

To check if your website is vulnerable to LDAP Injection, use our Website Security Checker.

📸 Screenshot 1: “Website security scanning tool interface”

Screenshot of the free tools webpage where you can access security assessment tools.

Simply enter your website URL, and our tool will analyze LDAP vulnerabilities, SQL Injection risks, XSS, and other security flaws.

📸 Screenshot 2: “Sample security report showing detected vulnerabilities”

An Example of a vulnerability assessment report generated with our free tool, providing insights into possible vulnerabilities.

Our tool generates a detailed report outlining vulnerabilities and remediation steps.

Real-World Exploit Example of LDAP Injection

In 2018, a major financial services company was compromised due to an LDAP Injection vulnerability. Attackers exploited a poorly sanitized search query to bypass authentication, gaining access to customer account details and internal administrative panels.

To prevent such attacks, always validate input, escape queries, and use LDAP authentication libraries.

Final Thoughts

LDAP Injection in Laravel is a serious security risk, but it can be mitigated using parameterized queries, input validation, and secure authentication mechanisms.

🚀 Want to test your website for LDAP vulnerabilities? Try our free Website Security Scanner!

For more cybersecurity tips and secure coding practices, check out our blog at Pentest Testing Corp. Blog.

Stay secure! 🔒

Summary of Key Takeaways

✅ LDAP Injection allows attackers to manipulate directory queries.
✅ Avoid string concatenation and use parameterized LDAP queries.
✅ Sanitize user input to prevent injection attacks.
✅ Limit LDAP privileges to reduce security risks.
✅ Use Laravel’s LDAP authentication package for better security.
✅ Test your website with our free tool to check website vulnerabilities.

Ready to Secure Your Laravel App?

🔹 Scan your website now: Website Security Test
🔹 Explore more cybersecurity topics: Pentest Testing Corp. Blog