CVE-2018-17439 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the HDF HDF5 1.10.3 library. There is a stack-based buffer overflow in the function H5S_extent_get_dims() in H5S.c. Specifically, this issue occurs while converting an HDF5 file to a GIF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17439 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the HDF HDF5 1.10.3 library, specifically within the H5S_extent_get_dims() function located in the H5S.c source file. This flaw demonstrates a classic software security issue where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries of a stack-allocated buffer. The vulnerability manifests during the conversion process of HDF5 files to GIF format, indicating that the issue is triggered by specific data processing operations rather than general library usage patterns.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it under CWE-121, stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a fixed-length stack buffer. The flaw is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through crafted HDF5 input files that, when processed by the affected library, cause the buffer overflow to occur. The stack-based nature of the vulnerability means that the overflow can overwrite adjacent stack variables, potentially including return addresses and function pointers, leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. This type of vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution risk when the library is used in applications that process untrusted input.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-17439 extends beyond simple application instability, as it can be leveraged by adversaries to execute malicious code on systems running vulnerable software. The vulnerability affects any system that utilizes the HDF5 library version 1.10.3 for processing HDF5 files, particularly those involved in scientific data processing, image conversion workflows, or applications that handle complex data structures. Given that HDF5 is widely used in scientific computing, data analysis platforms, and research environments, the potential attack surface is extensive and includes critical infrastructure applications that process large datasets.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all affected systems to upgrade to HDF5 library versions that have addressed this buffer overflow issue. Organizations should implement input validation controls that sanitize HDF5 file inputs before processing and consider deploying runtime protections such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization to reduce exploitability. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries and implementing proper code review processes that include static analysis tools to identify similar buffer overflow patterns. Additionally, network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which focuses on exploit private vulnerabilities and weaknesses. System administrators should monitor for any suspicious file processing activities and implement automated patch management systems to ensure all vulnerable components are promptly updated. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the need for regular security assessments of widely-used open source libraries in enterprise environments.