CVE-2019-9152 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the HDF HDF5 1.10.4 library. There is an out of bounds read in the function H5MM_xstrdup in H5MM.c when called from H5O_dtype_decode_helper in H5Odtype.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9152 resides within the HDF HDF5 1.10.4 library, a widely used software library for managing and storing large amounts of scientific data. This library serves as a critical component in numerous scientific computing environments, data analysis platforms, and research applications where structured data storage and retrieval are essential. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs during the execution of specific data type decoding operations, potentially compromising system integrity and data security.
The technical flaw specifically occurs in the H5MM_xstrdup function located within the H5MM.c source file. This function is designed to duplicate strings within the HDF5 library's memory management system, but it fails to properly validate input parameters when invoked by the H5O_dtype_decode_helper function in H5Odtype.c. The out-of-bounds read vulnerability arises from insufficient bounds checking during string duplication operations, allowing an attacker to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This condition can be triggered through malformed or maliciously crafted HDF5 files that contain specially constructed data type descriptors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it creates potential attack vectors for remote code execution and data manipulation. When an application processes an attacker-controlled HDF5 file containing malformed data structures, the out-of-bounds read can lead to unpredictable program behavior, application crashes, or even allow adversaries to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected application. This risk is particularly severe in environments where HDF5 files are processed automatically or when applications handle untrusted data from external sources without proper validation mechanisms.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of a buffer over-read condition, which maps to CWE-125 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, representing an out-of-bounds read in memory management functions. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the execution of malicious code through the manipulation of data processing functions. Organizations utilizing HDF5 libraries should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the library, implementing input validation for all HDF5 file processing operations, and deploying runtime monitoring systems to detect anomalous memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper bounds checking in memory management operations and highlights the potential for seemingly benign library functions to become attack vectors when insufficient validation is implemented.