CVE-2018-17237 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE
A SIGFPE signal is raised in the function H5D__chunk_set_info_real() of H5Dchunk.c in the HDF HDF5 1.10.3 library during an attempted parse of a crafted HDF file, because of incorrect protection against division by zero. This issue is different from CVE-2018-11207.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17237 represents a critical signal handling flaw within the HDF5 library version 1.10.3, specifically within the H5D__chunk_set_info_real() function located in H5Dchunk.c. This issue manifests as a SIGFPE (signal floating-point exception) when the library attempts to process a specially crafted HDF file, indicating a fundamental flaw in the library's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate protection against division by zero conditions, which is a well-documented class of programming error that can lead to program termination and potential denial of service scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs during the parsing phase of HDF file processing where the library encounters malformed data structures that trigger an arithmetic exception. The H5D__chunk_set_info_real() function fails to properly validate input parameters before performing division operations, creating an environment where maliciously crafted HDF files can force the library to execute division by zero operations. This flaw falls under CWE-369, which specifically addresses the division by zero vulnerability category, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices that mandate proper input validation and exception handling.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on HDF5 for data processing, particularly in environments where untrusted data sources are common such as scientific computing platforms, data analysis systems, and applications handling large datasets. The SIGFPE signal termination can result in complete application crashes, potentially leading to service disruption and data loss. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to perform denial of service attacks against systems processing HDF files, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous availability is critical. The vulnerability is distinct from CVE-2018-11207, indicating that multiple related issues exist within the same library version, suggesting a broader code quality problem in the HDF5 implementation.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors depending on the execution context. When combined with other exploitation techniques, the SIGFPE signal could be leveraged to disrupt normal application behavior or potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve arbitrary code execution. Organizations using HDF5 libraries in their data processing pipelines should consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their threat model, particularly in environments where data integrity and system availability are paramount. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper signal handling and robust input validation in library code, especially for widely-used scientific computing libraries that process potentially untrusted data formats.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the HDF5 library to version 1.10.4 or later where this specific issue has been addressed through proper division by zero protection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement defensive programming practices such as input validation and exception handling within their own applications that utilize HDF5 libraries. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing file validation procedures and sandboxing techniques when processing untrusted HDF files to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patched library properly handles malformed input without crashing or terminating unexpectedly, aligning with established security practices for software libraries and their integration into larger systems.