CVE-2017-17508 : Security Advisory and Response
Discover the divide-by-zero vulnerability in HDF5 version 1.10.1 with CVE-2017-17508. Learn about the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps.
A vulnerability involving dividing by zero has been discovered in version 1.10.1 of HDF5, specifically in the function H5T_set_loc within the H5T.c file in libhdf5.a. This weakness can be exploited by opening a manipulated hdf5 file, leading to a crash in h5dump.
Understanding CVE-2017-17508
This CVE identifies a divide-by-zero vulnerability in HDF5 version 1.10.1.
What is CVE-2017-17508?
The vulnerability in CVE-2017-17508 is a divide-by-zero issue present in the H5T_set_loc function in the H5T.c file within libhdf5.a. It can be triggered by opening a specially crafted hdf5 file, resulting in a crash in h5dump.
The Impact of CVE-2017-17508
The impact of this vulnerability includes the potential for denial of service (DoS) attacks by crashing the h5dump utility when processing malicious hdf5 files.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-17508
This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability involves a divide-by-zero flaw in the H5T_set_loc function in the H5T.c file within libhdf5.a, affecting version 1.10.1 of HDF5. When a manipulated hdf5 file is opened, it triggers this vulnerability, causing h5dump to crash.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: HDF5
- Vendor: N/A
- Version: 1.10.1
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by opening a specifically crafted hdf5 file, leading to a divide-by-zero condition and subsequent crash in the h5dump utility.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2017-17508 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Avoid opening untrusted or manipulated hdf5 files to prevent triggering the vulnerability.
- Consider restricting access to the h5dump utility to authorized users only.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update HDF5 to the latest patched versions to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
- Implement file validation mechanisms to detect and block malicious hdf5 files.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by the HDF5 project to address the divide-by-zero vulnerability in version 1.10.1.