What is LDAP in Cybersecurity?
Identity & AccessLDAP
Version 1.0 · Published April 2026 · Last verified April 2026
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is an open protocol for querying and modifying directory services over TCP/IP. It organizes entries in a tree structure using distinguished names. LDAP is the standard protocol for communicating with directory servers, including Active Directory and OpenLDAP.
Why LDAP Matters for Your Cybersecurity Career
LDAP injection is an OWASP-recognized vulnerability. Penetration testers query LDAP to enumerate users, groups, and service accounts. Security engineers configure LDAP binds and TLS settings. Understanding LDAP is essential for anyone working with enterprise identity infrastructure.
Which Cybersecurity Roles Use LDAP?
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LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is an open protocol for querying and modifying directory services over TCP/IP. It organizes entries in a tree structure using distinguished names. LDAP is the standard protocol for communicating with directory servers, including Active Directory and OpenLDAP.
LDAP injection is an OWASP-recognized vulnerability. Penetration testers query LDAP to enumerate users, groups, and service accounts. Security engineers configure LDAP binds and TLS settings. Understanding LDAP is essential for anyone working with enterprise identity infrastructure.
Cybersecurity professionals who work with LDAP include Penetration Tester, Security Engineer, SOC Analyst. These roles apply LDAP knowledge within the Identity & Access domain.
Sources
Definitions are original explanations written for career development purposes. For authoritative technical definitions, refer to NIST, ISO, or the relevant standards body.
Last verified: April 2026?Report an inaccuracy
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