Index: kernel/classes/datatypes/ezuser/ezldapuser.php
===================================================================
--- kernel/classes/datatypes/ezuser/ezldapuser.php	(revision 24750)
+++ kernel/classes/datatypes/ezuser/ezldapuser.php	(working copy)
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@
 
             $LDAPDebugTrace         = $LDAPIni->variable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPDebugTrace' ) === 'enabled';
             $LDAPVersion            = $LDAPIni->variable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPVersion' );
+            $LDAPStartTLS           = $LDAPIni->variable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPStartTLS' ) === 'enabled';
             $LDAPServer             = $LDAPIni->variable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPServer' );
             $LDAPPort               = $LDAPIni->variable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPPort' );
             $LDAPFollowReferrals    = (int) $LDAPIni->variable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPFollowReferrals' );
@@ -244,6 +245,24 @@
             {
                 ldap_set_option( $ds, LDAP_OPT_PROTOCOL_VERSION, $LDAPVersion );
                 ldap_set_option( $ds, LDAP_OPT_REFERRALS, $LDAPFollowReferrals );
+
+                if ( $LDAPStartTLS )
+                {
+                    if ( (int)$LDAPVersion < 3 )
+                    {
+                        eZDebug::writeError( 'LDAP set to encrypt with StartTLS, but using protocol version lower than 3!', __METHOD__ );
+                        $ds = false;
+                    }
+                    else if ( !ldap_start_tls( $ds ) )
+                    {
+                        eZDebug::writeError( 'Unable to negotiate StartTLS connection to LDAP server!', __METHOD__ );
+                        $ds = false;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            if ( $ds )
+            {
                 if ( $LDAPBindUser == '' )
                 {
                     $r = ldap_bind( $ds );
Index: settings/ldap.ini
===================================================================
--- settings/ldap.ini	(revision 24750)
+++ settings/ldap.ini	(working copy)
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 LDAPDebugTrace=disabled
 # Set LDAP version number
 LDAPVersion=2
+# Enable/disable StartTLS encryption over LDAP connection. This requires LDAP version 3.
+LDAPStartTLS=disabled
 # Determines whether the LDAP library automatically follows referrals returned by LDAP servers or not.
 # set to 1 to enable
 LDAPFollowReferrals=0
Index: tests/tests/kernel/datatypes/ezuser/ezldapuser_test.php
===================================================================
--- tests/tests/kernel/datatypes/ezuser/ezldapuser_test.php	(revision 24750)
+++ tests/tests/kernel/datatypes/ezuser/ezldapuser_test.php	(working copy)
@@ -538,6 +538,58 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Test scenario for LDAP login with StartTLS encryption
+     *
+     * Test Outline
+     * ------------
+     * 1. Set LDAP version 2 and enable StartTLS
+     * 2. Login with username and password
+     * 3. Check that this fails
+     * 4. Set LDAP version 3
+     * 5. Login with username and password
+     * 6. Check parent nodes of user object
+     *
+     * @result:
+     * @expected:
+     *   The first login fails.
+     *   The second login succeeds, user is placed in the StarWars, Rogues and RebelAlliance groups.
+     */
+    public function testLoginUserStartTLS()
+    {
+        if ( !self::ldapIsEnabled() )
+        {
+            $this->markTestSkipped( 'LDAP is not loaded' );
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $this->ldapINI->setVariable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPGroupMappingType', 'UseGroupAttribute' );
+        $this->ldapINI->setVariable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPCreateMissingGroups', 'disabled' );
+        $this->ldapINI->setVariable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPUserGroupAttributeType', 'name' );
+        $this->ldapINI->setVariable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPUserGroupAttribute', 'ou' );
+        $this->ldapINI->setVariable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPVersion', 2 );
+        $this->ldapINI->setVariable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPStartTLS', 'enabled' );
+
+        $user = eZLDAPUser::loginUser( 'han.solo', 'leiaishot' );
+        self::assertEquals( false, $user );
+
+        $this->ldapINI->setVariable( 'LDAPSettings', 'LDAPVersion', 3 );
+
+        $user = eZLDAPUser::loginUser( 'han.solo', 'leiaishot' );
+        if ( $user instanceof eZUser )
+        {
+            $contentObject = $user->attribute( 'contentobject' );
+            $parentNodeIDs = $contentObject->attribute( 'parent_nodes' );
+            sort( $parentNodeIDs );
+            self::assertEquals( array( $this->starWarsGroupNodeId, $this->rebelGroupNodeId, $this->rogueGroupNodeId ),
+                                $parentNodeIDs );
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            $this->markTestSkipped( 'LDAP StartTLS is not available' );
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Test scenario for ...
      *
      * Test Outline
