CVE-2018-17237 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2018-17237, a vulnerability in the HDF HDF5 1.10.3 library that allows attackers to trigger a division by zero issue, potentially leading to a denial of service or arbitrary code execution. Find mitigation steps and security practices to prevent exploitation.
CVE-2018-17237 involves a vulnerability in the HDF HDF5 1.10.3 library that triggers a SIGFPE signal due to a division by zero issue. This CVE should not be confused with CVE-2018-11207.
Understanding CVE-2018-17237
What is CVE-2018-17237?
The function H5D__chunk_set_info_real() in H5Dchunk.c of the HDF HDF5 1.10.3 library encounters a SIGFPE signal when analyzing a specially designed HDF file, leading to a division by zero vulnerability.
The Impact of CVE-2018-17237
This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the application or potentially executing arbitrary code.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-17237
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from inadequate measures to prevent division by zero in the H5D__chunk_set_info_real() function.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Vendor: n/a
- Product: n/a
- Versions: All versions of HDF HDF5 1.10.3 are affected.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a specially designed HDF file to trigger the division by zero issue, leading to a SIGFPE signal.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the security update provided by the vendor promptly.
- Avoid opening untrusted HDF files.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update the HDF5 library to the latest version.
- Implement proper input validation to prevent maliciously crafted files from causing harm.
Patching and Updates
It is crucial to install the security update released by the vendor to address the division by zero vulnerability in the HDF HDF5 1.10.3 library.