CVE-2018-17436 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE
ReadCode() in decompress.c in the HDF HDF5 through 1.10.3 library allows attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid write access) via a crafted HDF5 file. This issue was triggered while converting a GIF file to an HDF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17436 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the HDF5 library version 1.10.3 and earlier, specifically manifesting in the ReadCode() function located in decompress.c. This issue arises from inadequate input validation during the processing of HDF5 files, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted files can trigger invalid write operations that compromise system stability and availability. The vulnerability was particularly concerning as it could be exploited through the conversion process of GIF files into HDF format, demonstrating how seemingly innocuous file format conversions could serve as attack vectors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the HDF5 library attempts to decompress data from a malformed HDF5 file, specifically targeting the ReadCode() function which handles code reading operations during decompression. The flaw stems from insufficient bounds checking and memory management during the decompression process, allowing attackers to craft specially designed HDF5 files that cause the library to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries. This invalid write access pattern constitutes a classic buffer overflow condition that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes, making it particularly dangerous for applications that process untrusted HDF5 data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that utilize the HDF5 library for data processing, particularly in environments where users can upload or receive HDF5 files from external sources. The denial of service impact can be severe as it can cause applications to crash or become unresponsive, potentially affecting data processing pipelines, scientific computing environments, and research institutions that rely heavily on HDF5 formatted data. The vulnerability's trigger through GIF to HDF conversion highlights the importance of validating all file format conversions and the potential for indirect exploitation through seemingly safe file operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a memory safety issue that can be leveraged for both denial of service and potential privilege escalation attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution of malicious code through library loading and memory corruption, specifically targeting the process of file decompression and data parsing. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the HDF5 library, implementing strict file format validation, and employing sandboxing techniques for processing untrusted HDF5 files to prevent exploitation.
Security practitioners should prioritize patching affected systems as the primary mitigation strategy, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the HDF5 library and has been widely documented in security advisories. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of systems that process HDF5 files, while application-level validation should be enforced to prevent malformed files from reaching the decompression layer. The incident underscores the critical importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in scientific computing libraries that handle complex data formats and the necessity of regular security assessments for data processing infrastructure.