CVE-2018-14033 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 H5O_layout_decode in H5Olayout.c, related to HDmemcpy.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14033 represents a critical heap-based buffer over-read flaw within the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library, specifically within the H5O_layout_decode function located in H5Olayout.c. This issue arises from improper handling of memory operations during the decoding process of object layout information within Hierarchical Data Format files. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it involves a buffer over-read condition that can potentially be exploited to disclose sensitive memory contents or cause application instability. The flaw is directly related to the HDmemcpy function which is responsible for memory copying operations within the library's internal processing mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the memory manipulation process when the H5O_layout_decode function processes object layout data structures. When the library encounters malformed or specially crafted HDF5 files, the memory copying operation fails to properly validate the source buffer boundaries, leading to a situation where more data is read from memory than was allocated for the target buffer. This over-read condition can result in accessing memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information from adjacent memory regions or causing unexpected program behavior. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which is a common category of memory safety issues that can lead to information disclosure or denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that process HDF5 formatted data files, particularly in environments where untrusted input is processed without proper validation. Attackers could exploit this flaw by crafting malicious HDF5 files designed to trigger the buffer over-read condition during normal library operations. The impact extends across various applications that depend on HDF5 libraries for data storage and retrieval, including scientific computing platforms, data analysis systems, and file processing applications. The vulnerability can lead to information disclosure attacks where sensitive data from memory is inadvertently exposed, or it may cause application crashes that result in denial of service conditions, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where system stability is paramount.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14033 primarily involve upgrading to a patched version of the HDF HDF5 library where the buffer over-read condition has been addressed through proper bounds checking and memory validation. Organizations should prioritize updating their systems to versions that contain the fix, as the vulnerability represents a significant security risk that can be exploited remotely. Additionally, implementing input validation measures that sanitize HDF5 file inputs before processing can provide an additional layer of protection against exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular security assessments of third-party libraries used in critical applications, as this issue demonstrates how seemingly minor memory handling flaws can have substantial security implications. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems that process HDF5 data, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation attempts.