CVE-2018-13876 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library. There is a stack-based buffer overflow in the function H5FD_sec2_read in H5FDsec2.c, related to HDread.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13876 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library, specifically within the H5FD_sec2_read function located in the H5FDsec2.c source file. This flaw originates from improper handling of data read operations through the HDread function, creating a scenario where malicious input can cause unauthorized memory access patterns that exceed allocated buffer boundaries. The issue stems from insufficient bounds checking during file reading operations, particularly when processing structured data formats that the library handles for scientific data storage and retrieval.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the H5FD_sec2_read function processes data from secondary storage files using the HDread abstraction layer. The buffer overflow occurs because the function fails to validate the size of incoming data against the allocated stack buffer space, allowing an attacker to craft specially formatted input that overflows the designated memory region. This condition creates potential for arbitrary code execution, memory corruption, or denial of service scenarios that can compromise the integrity and availability of systems relying on the affected library. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized as a fundamental memory safety issue in software development practices.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing HDF5 libraries for scientific data management, particularly in environments where untrusted data inputs are processed. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a prime target for exploitation in attack scenarios. Systems using the affected library version may be vulnerable to attacks that manipulate HDF5 file formats, especially when these files are processed through applications that utilize the H5FD_sec2 driver for secondary storage operations. The vulnerability affects any software stack that depends on the HDF5 1.8.20 library for data handling, including scientific computing frameworks, data analysis platforms, and research applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-13876 should prioritize immediate patching of the HDF5 library to version 1.8.21 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement input validation measures to sanitize all HDF5 file inputs before processing, particularly in scenarios where external or untrusted data sources are involved. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems that process HDF5 data, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous file processing behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems, and T1499.004 for network disruption through denial of service conditions. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization to provide additional defense-in-depth measures against potential exploitation attempts.