---
title: "CVE-2026-103878: Apache Directory LDAP API - Cleartext Transmission"
description: "Apache Directory LDAP API >= 2.1.0 < 2.1.9 contains a cleartext transmission vulnerability caused by StartTLS extended operation starting after a Search request, letting attackers intercept data in plain text before TLS handshake completion, exploit requires network access."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-103878/
---

# CVE-2026-103878 Apache Directory LDAP API - Cleartext Transmission

Apache Directory LDAP API >= 2.1.0 < 2.1.9 contains a cleartext transmission vulnerability caused by StartTLS extended operation starting after a Search request, letting attackers intercept data in plain text before TLS handshake completion, exploit requires network access.

CVSS base score 7.5 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Not required

EPSS

0.21% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-103878)

## Details

Type

Cleartext Transmission

Impact

Information Disclosure

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Published

2 October 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-345](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/345.html)

## Vendor fix

Upgrade to version 2.1.9.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-103878](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-103878)
- [https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/d98f9w01nd3zmkwrr21y0l9kdr9jpty9](https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/d98f9w01nd3zmkwrr21y0l9kdr9jpty9)
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/10/02/6](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/10/02/6)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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