{"id":15121,"date":"2023-02-28T13:54:31","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T18:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jumpcloud.com\/?p=15121"},"modified":"2024-07-01T09:00:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T13:00:50","slug":"what-is-ldap-authentication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/what-is-ldap-authentication","title":{"rendered":"What Is LDAP Authentication?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP<\/a>) is one of the core authentication protocols that was developed for directory services. LDAP historically has been used as a database of information, primarily storing information like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n LDAP remains widely used in identity and access management (IAM). Security enhancements ensure that data is encrypted in transit and insecure authentication methods that are vulnerable to interception are rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article covers what LDAP authentication is and how it works. Continue reading to gain a deeper understanding of the protocol and how JumpCloud\u2019s open directory platform<\/a> delivers cloud-based LDAP authentication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we define what LDAP authentication is, we should talk about the significance of LDAP as a whole. According to Tim Howes, co-inventor of the LDAP protocol, LDAP was developed at the University of Michigan where he was a graduate student to initially replace DAP (the Directory Access Protocol) and provide low-overhead access to the X.500 Directory \u2014 the directory service that LDAP would eventually replace.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was in a group of young upstarts who were trying to bring Unix and the internet to campus. The internet was just emerging, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was creating standards for everything related to the internet, including email and directory services. So, we were working with X.500, which was ISO\u2019s standard for directory services. At that time, I was also working for the University\u2019s information technology division. I was assigned this project to deploy an X.500 directory for the campus, which I completed, but I quickly learned that it was way too heavy of a protocol and too complicated for the machines that were on most people\u2019s desktops. LDAP came out of my desire to do something a little lighter weight in order to accommodate the Macs and PCs that were on everybody\u2019s desktop.<\/p>\nTim Howes<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n LDAP has been highly successful ever since it was first introduced in 1993. In fact, LDAP v3 became the internet standard for directory services in 1997<\/a>. LDAP also inspired the creation of OpenLDAP<\/a>, the leading open source directory services platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This, in turn, spawned numerous other open source solutions based on LDAP (like 389 Directory, Apache Directory Service), and formed the foundation for Microsoft Active Directory<\/a> (AD) in the late 1990s. LDAP is also a core aspect of modern cloud directories like JumpCloud, which offers cloud LDAP.<\/a> So, it\u2019s safe to assume that LDAP authentication will be a foundational element of IAM for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LDAP directory servers use a flexible schema, which means they can store a variety of attributes, including user credentials, phone numbers, group associations, and more, in the format that meets the organization\u2019s needs. As a result, a common LDAP use case is to store core user identities<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because LDAP directories can store user data and credentials, they can act as the source of truth for LDAP authentication. In an LDAP authentication transaction, the user inputs their credentials via a system or application, which are then compared to those stored within the LDAP directory database. If they match, the user is authenticated and granted access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s break down the LDAP authentication process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n LDAP authentication is accomplished through a bind operation, and it follows a client\/server model. Typically, the client is an LDAP-ready system or application accessed by a user, and the server is the LDAP directory database. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To authenticate, the client sends a bind request to the LDAP server along with the user\u2019s identifier (i.e., username or email) and password, which the client obtains when the user inputs their credentials. If the user\u2019s submitted credentials match the credentials associated with their core user identity that is stored within the LDAP database, the user is authenticated and granted access to the requested resources or information through the client. If the credentials sent don\u2019t match, the bind fails and access is denied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rejecting insecure binds enhances security, protects sensitive data, and promotes good practices. Many compliance standards (e.g., NIST<\/a>, CIS<\/a>) recommend enforcing secure LDAP communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Origins of LDAP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Basic LDAP Authentication and Common Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does LDAP authentication between a client and server work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n