1. A computer-readable memory storing a plurality of instructions for causing a processor to perform operations, the plurality of instructions comprising: instructions that cause the processor to receive a request to execute a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) search operation and a LDAP request control, wherein the LDAP request control identifies an attribute associated with an entry of an LDAP directory; instructions that cause the processor to, in response to receiving the LDAP request control, modify execution of the LDAP search operation to locate one or more entries in one or more LDAP directories, wherein the execution is modified to follow references based on the attribute, and wherein the modified execution of the LDAP search operation includes; based on identifying a first entry of a first LDAP directory responsive to the LDAP search operation, determining that the identified first entry includes a first attribute that matches the attribute identified by the LDAP request control, wherein the first attribute identifies a second entry of a second LDAP directory; and identifying that the second entry has a second attribute, the second attribute matching the attribute indicated by the LDAP request control, and wherein the second attribute identifies a third entry of a third LDAP directory; and instructions that cause the processor to send a search result for the LDAP search operation, wherein the search result includes first data retrieved from the identified first entry, second data retrieved from the identified second entry, and third data retrieved from the identified third entry.