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How CVE-2025-2924 Works
The vulnerability resides in the `H5HL__fl_deserialize` function within `src/H5HLcache.c` of HDF5 versions up to 1.14.6. When processing the `free_block` argument, improper bounds checking allows a heap-based buffer overflow. An attacker with local access can craft a malicious HDF5 file, triggering memory corruption during deserialization. This could lead to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of heap metadata structures, enabling controlled memory overwrites.
DailyCVE Form
Platform: HDF5
Version: ≤1.14.6
Vulnerability: Heap overflow
Severity: Medium
Date: 04/17/2025
What Undercode Say:
Exploitation
1. Malicious File Crafting:
import h5py
with h5py.File('exploit.h5', 'w') as f:
f.create_dataset('payload', data=b'\x41' 1024) Overflow trigger
2. Heap Grooming:
void chunks[bash]; for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) chunks[bash] = malloc(256); // Prep heap layout
3. Exploit Payload:
./h5dump exploit.h5 Triggers deserialization
Protection
1. Patch Application:
apt-get update && apt-get upgrade libhdf5-dev Debian-based
2. Compile-Time Mitigations:
gcc -fstack-protector-strong -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 ...
3. Runtime Checks:
export HDF5_DISABLE_VERSION_CHECK=0 Enforce version validation
4. Memory Sanitizers:
LD_PRELOAD=/usr/lib/libasan.so ./h5ls exploit.h5
5. Network Controls:
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 8020 -j DROP Block HDF5 network ports
Analytics
- CVSS 4.0: AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/VA:L (4.8 Medium)
- Affected: Local systems processing untrusted HDF5 files
- Mitigation Complexity: Low (patch available)
- Exploit Maturity: Public PoC disclosed
Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
