CVE-2021-45833 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE • 01/06/2022
A Stack-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability exists in HDF5 1.13.1-1 via the H5D__create_chunk_file_map_hyper function in /hdf5/src/H5Dchunk.c, which causes a Denial of Service (context-dependent).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45833 represents a stack-based buffer overflow within the HDF5 library version 1.13.1-1, specifically within the H5D__create_chunk_file_map_hyper function located in the /hdf5/src/H5Dchunk.c source file. This flaw manifests as a denial of service condition that is context-dependent, meaning the vulnerability can be triggered under specific operational circumstances involving the manipulation of HDF5 data structures. The issue arises from improper bounds checking during the processing of chunked data layouts within the hierarchical data format, which is widely used for storing and managing large scientific datasets across various domains including climate modeling, genomics, and financial data analysis.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the function's failure to adequately validate input parameters when constructing hyper-slab mappings for chunked datasets. When processing complex chunked data structures, the H5D__create_chunk_file_map_hyper function attempts to allocate stack memory for hyper-slab information but does not properly verify that the input dimensions and offsets remain within acceptable bounds. This allows an attacker to craft malicious HDF5 files containing specially constructed chunk metadata that can cause the function to write beyond the allocated stack buffer boundaries, resulting in stack corruption and subsequent program termination. The vulnerability is classified as a stack-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where data is written to a stack buffer beyond its allocated size, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous scientific and data-intensive applications that rely on HDF5 for data storage and retrieval. Organizations utilizing HDF5 for large-scale data processing, including research institutions, financial services, and government agencies, face potential disruption of their data workflows when encountering malformed HDF5 files. The context-dependent nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires specific conditions involving the creation or processing of chunked datasets with particular parameter configurations, but once triggered, the denial of service condition can halt critical data processing operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting data systems, and represents a significant risk to data integrity and system availability in environments where HDF5 is extensively used.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-45833 primarily focus on immediate software updates and defensive programming measures. System administrators should prioritize upgrading to HDF5 versions that contain the patched implementation of the H5D__create_chunk_file_map_hyper function, typically those released after the vulnerability disclosure. Additionally, implementing input validation controls and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to prevent malformed HDF5 files from reaching the vulnerable code paths. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning systems to detect potentially malicious HDF5 files within their data repositories, particularly those that may have been introduced through untrusted sources or third-party data integrations. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software dependencies and implementing robust input validation practices in data processing pipelines to prevent similar stack-based buffer overflow conditions from compromising system availability and data integrity.