CVE-2020-18494 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2023
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in function H5S_close in H5S.c in HDF5 1.10.4 allows remote attackers to run arbitrary code via creation of crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-18494 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the HDF5 library version 1.10.4, specifically within the H5S_close function located in the H5S.c source file. This issue falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability manifests when processing specially crafted HDF5 files that exploit improper memory management during the closure of dataspace objects. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code on systems that process these malformed files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where HDF5 files are frequently opened or processed without proper validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of memory allocation and deallocation processes within the HDF5 library. When the H5S_close function handles certain malformed dataspace structures, it fails to properly validate the size of buffers before copying data into them. This allows attackers to craft HDF5 files containing oversized or malformed data structures that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. The overflow can overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can be triggered remotely through file processing, making it a prime target for exploitation in web applications or file sharing systems that handle HDF5 formatted data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on HDF5 for scientific data storage and processing. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely through crafted files means that attackers could gain full system control, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability affects systems running HDF5 1.10.4 and likely impacts other versions in the 1.10.x series, making it widespread across scientific computing environments, research institutions, and data processing platforms. Organizations utilizing HDF5 for storing large datasets in fields such as climate modeling, genomics, or aerospace engineering face particular risk, as these systems often process large volumes of external data that could contain maliciously crafted HDF5 files.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-18494 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with updated HDF5 library versions that contain the necessary memory boundary checks and buffer overflow protections. Organizations should implement strict file validation protocols for all incoming HDF5 files, including signature verification and size limitations to prevent exploitation. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems that process HDF5 data, particularly in web-facing applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control through application execution, and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors, while monitoring for suspicious file processing activities can help detect attempted exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for processing untrusted HDF5 files and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence to track related attack patterns targeting scientific computing environments.