CVE-2024-3203 in c-blosc2
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in c-blosc2 up to 2.13.2. Affected is the function ndlz8_decompress of the file /src/c-blosc2/plugins/codecs/ndlz/ndlz8x8.c. The manipulation leads to heap-based buffer overflow. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 2.14.3 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-259050 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-3203 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the c-blosc2 compression library, specifically within the ndlz8_decompress function located in the file /src/c-blosc2/plugins/codecs/ndlz/ndlz8x8.c. This flaw exists in versions up to 2.13.2 and poses significant security risks due to its remote exploitability. The c-blosc2 library serves as a high-performance compression library widely used in scientific computing, data processing, and storage applications where efficient data compression is essential. The affected function processes compressed data using the ndlz8 compression algorithm, which is part of the library's codec plugins designed to handle various compression formats.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the ndlz8_decompress function, where input data from compressed streams is processed without sufficient validation of buffer sizes. When maliciously crafted compressed data is fed to the decompression function, it can cause the program to write beyond the allocated memory boundaries, resulting in a heap-based buffer overflow condition. This memory corruption allows attackers to potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to arbitrary code execution, denial of service, or information disclosure. The vulnerability's classification as remotely exploitable indicates that attackers can trigger the flaw through network-based inputs without requiring local access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where c-blosc2 is used for processing external data streams.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as it affects numerous applications and systems that rely on c-blosc2 for data compression operations. The remote attack vector means that any system processing compressed data from untrusted sources could be compromised, including web servers, data processing pipelines, scientific computing clusters, and storage systems. The public disclosure of the exploit further amplifies the risk, as threat actors can immediately leverage this vulnerability without requiring advanced technical skills. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent buffer overflows through proper input validation and memory management. Organizations using c-blosc2 in production environments face immediate risk of system compromise, data breaches, and service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-3203 focus primarily on upgrading to the patched version 2.14.3, which addresses the buffer overflow issue through proper bounds checking and memory validation mechanisms. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and verifying that all instances of c-blosc2 are updated to the secure version. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and input validation measures can provide defense-in-depth protection while waiting for patches to be deployed. Organizations should also consider monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential attacks targeting this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could leverage the buffer overflow to execute malicious code. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potentially affected components in the software supply chain that might use vulnerable versions of c-blosc2.