CVE-2024-32612 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
HDF5 Library through 1.14.3 contains a heap-based buffer over-read in H5HL__fl_deserialize in H5HLcache.c, resulting in the corruption of the instruction pointer, a different vulnerability than CVE-2024-32613.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-32612 affects the HDF5 (Hierarchical Data Format) Library version 1.14.3 and earlier, representing a critical heap-based buffer over-read condition that occurs within the H5HL__fl_deserialize function located in the H5HLcache.c source file. This flaw constitutes a memory safety issue that can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or system compromise when processing malformed HDF5 files. The vulnerability specifically impacts the library's handling of cached data structures during deserialization operations, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to read beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of input data within the H5HL__fl_deserialize function which manages the deserialization of heap list cache entries. When the library processes specially crafted HDF5 files containing malformed heap list structures, the deserialization routine fails to properly validate array indices or buffer sizes before performing memory reads. This over-read condition can cause the instruction pointer to be corrupted, potentially leading to unpredictable program behavior and execution flow manipulation. The flaw operates at the heap memory management level, where the library's cache subsystem attempts to deserialize heap list entries without adequate boundary checks, creating a scenario where adjacent memory regions can be accessed beyond intended limits.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that utilize HDF5 libraries for data storage and retrieval operations, particularly in environments where untrusted data processing occurs. The impact extends across various applications that depend on HDF5 for scientific computing, data analysis, and storage management, including but not limited to research institutions, financial services, and government agencies. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious HDF5 files that trigger the over-read condition during normal library operations, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the target application to process the malicious input file, making it particularly dangerous in automated processing environments or applications that handle external data without proper validation.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-32612 should prioritize immediate patching of affected HDF5 library versions to the latest available release that contains the fix. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures for all HDF5 file processing operations and consider deploying application whitelisting controls to restrict execution of untrusted files. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of systems that process external HDF5 data, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous file processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all systems utilizing HDF5 libraries to identify potential attack vectors and implement proper error handling mechanisms that can detect and prevent buffer over-read conditions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, particularly when exploitation leads to arbitrary code execution within affected applications.