CVE-2019-9033 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 stack-based buffer over-read for the "Rank and Dimension" feature in the function ReadNextCell() in mat5.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9033 resides within the matio library version 1.5.13, specifically affecting the libmatio.a component used for MAT File I/O operations. This library serves as a critical interface for reading and writing MATLAB data files, making it widely utilized across scientific computing applications, research environments, and engineering tools that depend on MATLAB file format compatibility. The flaw manifests in the ReadNextCell() function located within the mat5.c source file, which processes the "Rank and Dimension" feature of MATLAB data structures during file parsing operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability constitutes a stack-based buffer over-read condition that occurs when the library attempts to process cell array data structures within MATLAB files. During the parsing of cell arrays, the ReadNextCell() function fails to properly validate the dimensions and rank information provided in the file header, leading to a scenario where the application reads beyond the allocated stack buffer boundaries. This over-read condition arises from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that should validate the expected data size against the actual available buffer space before performing memory access operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the core parsing logic that handles fundamental MATLAB data structures, making it exploitable during normal file processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or application crashes, as it represents a potential security risk that could be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. When a vulnerable application processes a specially crafted MATLAB file containing malformed cell array metadata, the over-read condition can lead to unpredictable behavior including memory corruption that may allow for code execution in memory regions adjacent to the affected buffer. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which classifies the issue as a fundamental memory safety problem where insufficient bounds checking permits access beyond allocated memory boundaries. The attack surface is broad given the widespread use of matio library across various scientific computing platforms and MATLAB-compatible applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9033 should prioritize immediate patching of the matio library to version 1.5.14 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer over-read condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation procedures that verify file integrity before processing MATLAB data files, particularly when dealing with externally sourced or untrusted data. Security monitoring should include detection of malformed MATLAB files that attempt to trigger the vulnerable code path, while application developers should consider implementing additional defensive programming techniques such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper bounds checking in file format parsers, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where file processing vulnerabilities are commonly exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution. Regular security assessments of scientific computing environments should include verification of matio library versions and implementation of secure coding practices to prevent similar buffer over-read conditions in other file format parsers.