Directory services

In computing, directory services are systems that store, organize, and provide access to information about users and other resources. They act like a centralized phonebook for network resources, mapping names of entities (users, computers, printers, etc.) to details like attributes and network addresses​.

Common directory services (based on LDAP – Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) include Active Directory, OpenLDAP, and Apache DS. A directory service typically holds identity data (usernames, passwords, roles) and makes it available for authentication and authorization processes. By querying the directory, applications and systems can validate credentials or retrieve user profile info. In summary, directory services are fundamental building blocks of IAM, enabling centralized identity management and lookup.

How does it affect identity security?

Directory services are critical to identity security because they centralize control over who exists in an IT environment and what their attributes and credentials are. This centralization means security policies (password rules, account lockout, attribute requirements) can be enforced uniformly. If a directory service is compromised, an attacker could harvest a trove of sensitive identity data (like password hashes or personal info) or even manipulate entries to grant unauthorized access. 

Conversely, a well-secured directory service allows administrators to quickly disable accounts, update permissions, and audit access across the enterprise. It’s also essential for authentication – if the directory service fails or is tampered with, users might be unable to log in or, worse, might be falsely authenticated. Essentially, the directory is the authoritative source of identity; protecting it (through encryption, access control, monitoring, and replication for availability) is a direct way to protect all identities in the system.

Case study

A recent high-profile breach showed the impact of weaknesses in directory services. In mid-2023, a threat actor identified as Storm-0558 managed to forge authentication tokens to access cloud email accounts by exploiting Azure Active Directory (Microsoft’s cloud directory service). The hackers acquired a Microsoft account signing key and used it to impersonate Azure AD users, gaining unauthorized access to the email of multiple U.S. government agencies​. This incident demonstrated that if the keys or tokens associated with a directory service are stolen, attackers can bypass normal authentication and act with the identities of legitimate users.

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