CVE-2024-33875 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
HDF5 Library through 1.14.3 has a heap-based buffer overflow in H5O__layout_encode in H5Olayout.c, resulting in the corruption of the instruction pointer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2025
The HDF5 Library vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-33875 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow that resides within the H5O__layout_encode function located in the H5Olayout.c source file. This flaw affects versions of the HDF5 library up through 1.14.3 and demonstrates a serious security weakness that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability manifests when the library processes malformed or specially crafted data structures during the encoding of object layout information, creating conditions where memory corruption occurs beyond the bounds of allocated heap buffers. The specific nature of the overflow results in the corruption of the instruction pointer, which fundamentally compromises the integrity of the executing process and provides potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit this weakness.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the H5O__layout_encode function, which fails to properly validate the size and structure of data being processed during object layout serialization. When the library encounters input data that exceeds expected buffer dimensions, the encoding routine continues to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, overwriting adjacent heap memory regions including critical control structures. This heap corruption directly impacts the program's execution flow by corrupting the instruction pointer, which typically leads to program crashes or, in more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, allows attackers to redirect execution to malicious code. The vulnerability operates at the memory management level and represents a classic example of improper input validation that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-33875 extends across numerous systems and applications that rely on the HDF5 library for data storage and manipulation, particularly in scientific computing environments, data analysis platforms, and applications handling large datasets. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious HDF5 files or data streams that trigger the vulnerable code path during normal library operations, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it can be triggered through legitimate library usage patterns, making detection and prevention challenging. Organizations using affected versions of HDF5 may face risks including data breaches, system availability disruption, and potential lateral movement within compromised networks, as the corrupted instruction pointer can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through version updates to HDF5 library versions that contain the necessary patches and fixes. System administrators should prioritize upgrading to versions beyond 1.14.3 where the heap overflow has been addressed through proper bounds checking and memory management improvements. Additionally, implementing input validation measures at application layers can provide defense-in-depth protection by sanitizing HDF5 data sources before processing. Organizations should also consider deploying runtime protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization, stack canaries, and heap integrity checking to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow classification and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control operations, as successful exploitation could enable persistent access to affected systems through arbitrary code execution capabilities.