CVE-2019-20019 in matio
Summary
by MITRE
An attempted excessive memory allocation was discovered in Mat_VarRead5 in mat5.c in matio 1.5.17.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20019 represents a critical memory allocation flaw within the matio library version 1.5.17, specifically within the Mat_VarRead5 function located in the mat5.c source file. This issue manifests as an attempted excessive memory allocation that could potentially lead to system instability or resource exhaustion. The matio library serves as a critical component for reading and writing matlab matrix files, making it widely utilized across scientific computing applications and data analysis platforms that depend on matlab file format compatibility.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Mat_VarRead5 function which processes matlab version 5 file format data structures. When parsing malformed or specially crafted matlab files, the function attempts to allocate memory based on values that may be excessively large or improperly formatted, leading to potential denial of service conditions or memory corruption scenarios. This flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and file parsing, where the library fails to properly validate the size parameters embedded within matlab file headers before committing to memory allocation operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-770, which specifically addresses allocation of resources without proper limits or controls, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to resource exhaustion attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-20019 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially compromise entire computing environments that rely on matio for data processing. Systems utilizing this library for automated data ingestion, scientific computing workflows, or batch processing operations become vulnerable to resource exhaustion attacks that could render applications unresponsive or cause system crashes. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious matlab files designed to trigger the excessive memory allocation, thereby consuming system resources and potentially causing cascading failures in dependent applications. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where matlab file processing is automated or where users have the ability to upload or process external data files, making it a significant concern for research institutions, engineering firms, and scientific computing platforms that frequently handle matlab data formats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20019 should prioritize immediate patching of affected matio library versions to the latest stable releases that contain fixed implementations of the memory allocation validation. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures for any matlab file processing workflows, including size limitations and format verification before file parsing operations commence. The implementation of memory monitoring and resource allocation limits can help contain the impact of potential exploitation attempts, while network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure to untrusted data sources. Additionally, security teams should monitor for any attempts to exploit this vulnerability through automated scanning tools and implement proper logging mechanisms to detect anomalous memory allocation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust input validation and resource management in scientific computing libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499 which addresses resource exhaustion attacks and the broader category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to system compromise.