CVE-2019-9031 in matio
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in libmatio.a in matio (aka MAT File I/O Library) 1.5.13. There is a NULL pointer dereference in the function Mat_VarFree() in mat.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9031 represents a critical NULL pointer dereference flaw within the matio library, specifically affecting version 1.5.13 of the MAT File I/O Library. This issue manifests within the Mat_VarFree() function located in the mat.c source file, which serves as a core component for handling MATLAB file format operations. The matio library is widely utilized across scientific computing environments and data analysis platforms where MATLAB-compatible file formats need to be processed, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems handling sensitive scientific data.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the Mat_VarFree() function, which is responsible for releasing memory allocated to MATLAB variable structures. When the function encounters certain malformed or improperly constructed MAT files, it attempts to dereference a NULL pointer, leading to immediate program termination through a segmentation fault. This behavior violates fundamental software safety principles and represents a classic example of improper error handling that can be exploited by malicious actors to cause denial of service attacks against applications relying on the affected library. The vulnerability operates at the level of memory management and input processing, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated processing of external data sources occurs.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations utilizing applications built on top of the matio library, including scientific computing frameworks, data analysis tools, and MATLAB integration platforms. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious MAT files designed to trigger the NULL pointer dereference during normal file processing operations, resulting in service disruption and potential system crashes. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially compromise the integrity of data processing pipelines, as applications may fail to properly handle legitimate files when encountering corrupted or specially crafted inputs. This vulnerability particularly affects systems in research institutions, engineering firms, and scientific computing environments where automated processing of large datasets is common.
Security mitigations for CVE-2019-9031 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to matio version 1.5.14 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the NULL pointer dereference issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms to sanitize all MAT file inputs before processing, employing defensive programming techniques that prevent NULL pointer access. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable applications to untrusted data sources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL Pointer Dereference, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499 for network disruption and service availability attacks, emphasizing the need for robust error handling and memory management practices in scientific computing environments. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential instances of similar flaws within the software supply chain.