CVE-2018-14031 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library. There is a heap-based buffer over-read in the function H5T_copy in H5T.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14031 represents a critical heap-based buffer over-read flaw within the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library, a widely used format for storing and managing large and complex data collections. This issue resides in the H5T_copy function located in the H5T.c source file, which is responsible for copying data type descriptions within the HDF5 framework. The flaw manifests when the library processes malformed or specially crafted HDF5 files that contain invalid data type information, creating a scenario where the application attempts to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. Such buffer over-read conditions can potentially lead to information disclosure, application crashes, or in more severe cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation circumstances.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which specifically addresses "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions where software reads data past the end of a buffer. This particular implementation flaw occurs during the data type copying operation when the H5T_copy function fails to properly validate the size or boundaries of the source data before attempting to copy it to a destination buffer. The heap-based nature of the over-read indicates that the vulnerable memory allocation occurs on the heap rather than the stack, making the exploitation more complex but potentially more reliable in certain environments. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient boundary checking in memory management operations, where the function does not adequately verify that the source data length matches the expected buffer size before performing the copy operation.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-14031 extends significantly across systems that rely on HDF5 libraries for data processing, particularly in scientific computing, data analysis, and storage applications. Any application that utilizes the HDF5 library to read or process user-provided data files becomes potentially vulnerable to this flaw, including but not limited to data visualization tools, scientific simulation software, and large-scale data management systems. The vulnerability can be exploited through maliciously crafted HDF5 files that trigger the buffer over-read condition during normal library operation, potentially leading to system instability, data corruption, or unauthorized information access. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where users can upload or provide data files, as attackers could craft specially designed files to exploit this vulnerability and gain unauthorized access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14031 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the official HDF5 library updates that address this specific buffer over-read flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify all systems utilizing the affected HDF5 library versions and ensure timely deployment of security patches. Additionally, input validation and sanitization measures should be strengthened to prevent the processing of untrusted HDF5 files, including the implementation of file format validation checks and the use of sandboxed environments for data processing. System administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of exploitation, while also monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and conducting regular code reviews to identify and remediate similar buffer management issues within critical software components. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain under the Tactic of Execution and Persistence, potentially enabling attackers to establish footholds within affected systems through the exploitation of the heap-based buffer over-read condition.