CVE-2018-13873 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library. There is a buffer over-read in H5O_chunk_deserialize in H5Ocache.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13873 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the HDF Group's HDF5 library version 1.8.20. This issue resides in the H5O_chunk_deserialize function located within the H5Ocache.c source file, which forms part of the HDF5 object cache implementation. The vulnerability manifests when processing specially crafted HDF5 files that contain malformed chunked dataset metadata, creating a scenario where the application reads beyond the boundaries of allocated memory buffers. This fundamental memory safety issue stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking during the deserialization process of cached object chunks, allowing attackers to potentially trigger undefined behavior through crafted file inputs.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an application utilizing the HDF5 library attempts to deserialize chunked dataset metadata from an attacker-controlled file. The H5O_chunk_deserialize function fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming chunk information, leading to a situation where memory reads extend beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This over-read condition can result in information disclosure, application crashes, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the memory layout and execution context. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and may also align with CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions that can result from similar buffer management issues.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous domains where HDF5 libraries are deployed, including scientific computing environments, data analysis platforms, and applications handling large datasets. Systems processing HDF5 files from untrusted sources become vulnerable to remote code execution or denial of service attacks, particularly in environments where applications automatically process user-uploaded files or network-sourced data. The vulnerability affects not only direct applications but also systems that depend on HDF5 for data storage and retrieval operations, potentially creating cascading security implications throughout data processing pipelines. Attackers could exploit this flaw by crafting malicious HDF5 files that, when opened by vulnerable applications, trigger the buffer over-read condition and allow for arbitrary code execution or system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-13873 primarily focus on immediate library updates to patched versions of the HDF5 library, with the vendor releasing updates that include proper bounds checking and input validation for the affected deserialization function. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures for all HDF5 inputs, including signature verification and content scanning, before processing any potentially untrusted files. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can help reduce the attack surface by limiting which systems can process HDF5 files. Additionally, implementing memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous file processing patterns and memory access violations that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments of third-party libraries, as reflected in ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1068 for local privilege escalation through library vulnerabilities.