CVE-2018-13875 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library. There is an out-of-bounds read in the function H5VM_memcpyvv in H5VM.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13875 resides within the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library, a widely-used software library for managing and storing large and complex data collections. This library serves as the foundation for numerous scientific applications, data analysis platforms, and storage systems across various industries including aerospace, finance, and research institutions. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs within the H5VM_memcpyvv function located in the H5VM.c source file, representing a critical security weakness that can potentially compromise system integrity and data confidentiality.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking within the H5VM_memcpyvv function, which is responsible for memory copying operations within the HDF5 library. When processing certain data structures or malformed input files, the function fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before performing memory operations. This oversight allows an attacker to craft malicious HDF5 files that trigger memory access violations, potentially leading to information disclosure, application crashes, or even remote code execution depending on the specific implementation context. The out-of-bounds read vulnerability specifically falls under CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic example of buffer overread conditions that have historically been exploited in various security breaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can be leveraged to compromise systems that rely on HDF5 for data processing and storage. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness by embedding malicious data within HDF5 files, causing applications to read memory locations that contain sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or proprietary data. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users may encounter untrusted HDF5 files, such as email attachments, file sharing systems, or collaborative research platforms. The attack surface is broad given HDF5's widespread adoption in scientific computing, data analysis, and enterprise storage solutions, making this vulnerability a significant concern for organizations maintaining data integrity and system security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-13875 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the HDF5 development team released updated versions addressing this specific out-of-bounds read condition. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures for any HDF5 files received from external sources, employing sandboxing techniques and automated scanning tools to detect potentially malicious content before processing. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that all systems utilizing HDF5 libraries have been updated to versions containing the necessary fixes. Additionally, monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or application crashes related to HDF5 processing can serve as early warning indicators of potential exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios.