CVE-2018-14031 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An issue was discovered in the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library where a heap-based buffer over-read occurs in the function H5T_copy in H5T.c.

Understanding CVE-2018-14031

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library that leads to a heap-based buffer over-read.

What is CVE-2018-14031?

The vulnerability is specifically located in the function H5T_copy in H5T.c, allowing for a heap-based buffer over-read to occur.

The Impact of CVE-2018-14031

The vulnerability could potentially be exploited by attackers to read sensitive information from the memory of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-14031

The technical details of the CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

A heap-based buffer over-read occurs in the function H5T_copy in H5T.c within the HDF HDF5 1.8.20 library.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by triggering the heap-based buffer over-read in the H5T_copy function.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-14031, consider the following:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches or updates provided by the vendor.
Monitor official sources for any security advisories related to the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent buffer over-read vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of patches and updates released by the HDF HDF5 library to mitigate the vulnerability.