CVE-2024-32623 – CVE-2024-32623 is a heap-based buffer overflow ... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-32623?

CVE-2024-32623 has a CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). CVE-2024-32623 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the HDF5 library's H5VM_array_fill function. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by crafting malicious HDF5 files. Any application using HDF5 library versions through 1.14.3 for reading HDF5 files is affected.

📋 TL;DR

CVE-2024-32623 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the HDF5 library's H5VM_array_fill function. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by crafting malicious HDF5 files. Any application using HDF5 library versions through 1.14.3 for reading HDF5 files is affected.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

HDF5 Library
Applications using HDF5 library

Versions: HDF5 Library versions through 1.14.3

Operating Systems: All platforms where HDF5 is used

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Any application that reads HDF5 files using the vulnerable library versions is affected, regardless of configuration.

📦 What is this software?

Hdf5 by Hdfgroup

View all CVEs affecting Hdf5 →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Remote code execution with the privileges of the application processing the HDF5 file, potentially leading to full system compromise.

🟠

Likely Case

Application crash (denial of service) when processing specially crafted HDF5 files.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact if applications run with minimal privileges and process only trusted HDF5 files.

🌐 Internet-Facing: MEDIUM - Risk exists if applications process user-uploaded HDF5 files from untrusted sources.

🏢 Internal Only: LOW - Risk is lower for internal systems that process only trusted HDF5 files.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires the target to process a malicious HDF5 file. No public exploit code is known at this time.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: HDF5 Library 1.14.4

Vendor Advisory: https://www.hdfgroup.org/2024/05/new-hdf5-cve-issues-fixed-in-1-14-4/

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Download HDF5 1.14.4 from the HDF Group website. 2. Compile and install the new version. 3. Recompile any applications using HDF5 against the new library. 4. Restart affected applications.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict HDF5 file sources

all

Only allow processing of HDF5 files from trusted sources

Run applications with minimal privileges

all

Reduce impact by running HDF5-processing applications with limited permissions

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict input validation for HDF5 files
Isolate HDF5 processing to dedicated, sandboxed environments

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check HDF5 library version: h5dump --version or check linked library version in applications

Check Version:

h5dump --version | grep 'HDF5'

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify HDF5 library version is 1.14.4 or later

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Application crashes when processing HDF5 files
Segmentation faults in HDF5-related processes

Network Indicators:

Unusual HDF5 file uploads to web applications

SIEM Query:

Process: h5dump OR Process: contains 'HDF5' AND Event: Application Crash

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-32623

CVSS v3 Score: 8.8 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-122

Published: May 14, 2024

Last Updated: April 18, 2025

🔗 References

https://www.hdfgroup.org/2024/05/new-hdf5-cve-issues-fixed-in-1-14-4/ Issue Tracking,Vendor Advisory
https://www.hdfgroup.org/2024/05/new-hdf5-cve-issues-fixed-in-1-14-4/ Issue Tracking,Vendor Advisory

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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