CVE-2025-2915 in HDF5
Summary
by MITRE • 03/28/2025
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in HDF5 up to 1.14.6. This vulnerability affects the function H5F__accum_free of the file src/H5Faccum.c. The manipulation of the argument overlap_size leads to heap-based buffer overflow. Attacking locally is a requirement. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-2915 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the HDF5 library version 1.14.6 and earlier. This flaw exists in the H5F__accum_free function located in the src/H5Faccum.c source file, making it a significant concern for systems that rely on HDF5 for data storage and manipulation. The vulnerability is classified as problematic due to its potential for arbitrary code execution when exploited, particularly in environments where HDF5 is extensively used for scientific data management and storage. The buffer overflow occurs when processing the overlap_size argument, which indicates that improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation in the library's file management subsystem creates exploitable conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the accumulation of free memory blocks within HDF5's memory management system. When the H5F__accum_free function processes the overlap_size parameter, it fails to validate the size of memory regions being manipulated, allowing an attacker to provide malicious input that exceeds allocated buffer boundaries. This heap-based overflow can result in memory corruption that potentially allows for privilege escalation or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability requires local execution privileges for exploitation, which limits its scope compared to remote attack vectors but still poses significant risk in environments where local attackers have access to systems using HDF5 libraries.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-2915 extends across numerous scientific computing environments, data analysis platforms, and applications that utilize HDF5 for storing complex datasets and numerical data. Systems running scientific software, data visualization tools, and research applications that depend on HDF5 for file I/O operations are particularly vulnerable. The public disclosure of this exploit increases the likelihood of real-world attacks, especially in research institutions, government agencies, and scientific organizations that maintain large datasets in HDF5 format. Organizations using HDF5 in production environments face potential data integrity issues, system instability, and possible unauthorized access if exploited by malicious actors with local privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all affected HDF5 installations to version 1.14.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the heap-based buffer overflow. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring for systems that process HDF5 files, particularly those handling sensitive or critical data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a potential vector for attacks categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through local system commands. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to reduce exploitability, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential weaknesses in their HDF5-dependent applications and infrastructure.