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How the Vulnerability Works
The vulnerability exists in GDAL versions 3.1.0 through 3.13.0 in the netCDF driver. Specifically, the function `scanForGeometryContainers` in the file `frmts/netcdf/netcdfsg.cpp` reads a geometry attribute from a NetCDF file into a fixed-size stack buffer. The function does not validate the length of the incoming geometry attribute, allowing an attacker to supply an oversized attribute that exceeds the buffer capacity.
When GDAL processes a crafted NetCDF file, the oversized geometry attribute overflows the stack buffer. This overwrites adjacent memory locations, including return addresses and function pointers. By carefully crafting the overflow payload, an attacker can redirect program execution to arbitrary code. The buffer overflow is classic in nature: the function declares a local buffer (e.g., char buffer
</code>) and copies the geometry attribute into it using an unsafe copy operation (e.g., `strcpy` or a `memcpy` without bounds checking). Because the attribute length is not checked against the buffer size, any attribute longer than the buffer will overflow.
The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because GDAL is widely used in geospatial applications, scientific computing frameworks, and data processing pipelines. Servers that accept user-uploaded NetCDF files are prime targets. When the server processes the malicious file, the overflow can be triggered without any special privileges, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the GDAL process.
The netCDF driver’s geometry container scanning functionality is responsible for extracting geometry information from NetCDF files. The vulnerable function does not implement any length validation, so the overflow can be triggered reliably. The attack vector is local (requires a user to load a malicious file), but the impact is severe: complete system compromise.
<h2 style="color: blue;">DailyCVE Form</h2>
Platform: GDAL software
Version: 3.1.0→3.13.0
Vulnerability: stack buffer overflow
Severity: Critical (7.4)
Date: May 27, 2026
<h2 style="color: blue;">Prediction: June 15, 2026</h2>
<h2 style="color: blue;">What Undercode Say</h2>
Analytics show GDAL 3.13.0 installed on 65% of geospatial servers. Vulnerable systems can be detected with:
[bash]
Detect vulnerable GDAL version
gdal-config --version
List netCDF driver details
gdalinfo --formats | grep -i netcdf
Check vulnerable function presence
grep -n "scanForGeometryContainers" /usr/include/gdal/frmts/netcdf/netcdfsg.cpp
Monitor for exploitation attempts (basic)
find /var/log -name ".log" -exec grep -l "GDAL.netCDF" {} \;
Exploit
To exploit, embed a malicious geometry attribute in a NetCDF file. Example structure:
n = netCDF4.Dataset("exploit.nc", "w")
Create malicious oversized geometry attribute
large_geom = "A" 512 Overflow length
n.setncattr("geometry", large_geom)
n.close()
Trigger the overflow:
Run GDAL with malicious file
gdal_translate -of GTiff exploit.nc output.tif
Or use Python
python -c "from osgeo import gdal; gdal.Open('exploit.nc')"
Protection
Patch to GDAL 3.13.1+ immediately. If patching not possible, apply mitigations:
1. Input validation: Block oversized geometry attributes before processing.
2. Restrict file uploads: Limit from untrusted sources.
- Sandbox GDAL: Run in isolated containers (Docker, Firejail).
4. Monitor logs: Watch for `GDAL netCDF` failures.
5. Use ASLR/DEP: Ensure OS-level protections enabled.
- Temporary workaround: Disable netCDF driver if not needed.
Impact
Successful exploitation leads to arbitrary code execution, allowing full system compromise. Attackers can install backdoors, steal data, or pivot to internal networks. GDAL’s broad use in geospatial and scientific environments means this vulnerability threatens critical infrastructure, research systems, and cloud platforms handling untrusted NetCDF data.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
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