CVE-2024-32622

What it actually does

Out-of-bounds read in H5FL_arr_malloc (called from H5S_set_extent_simple) allowing unauthorized memory access during HDF5 file parsing.

Why it matters to the business

Applications using HDF5 for scientific or data processing may crash or leak sensitive information when handling untrusted files, increasing downtime and compliance risks in research and analytics environments.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker supplies a crafted HDF5 file containing malformed extent data; when the vulnerable library processes it via H5S_set_extent_simple, the out-of-bounds read in H5FL_arr_malloc occurs, potentially disclosing memory contents or causing a crash.

How to fix it

Update hdfgroup/hdf5 to commit 88429b015e29c59de604b0f552001fb7cb7ed5d0 or later; rebuild and redeploy all dependent applications.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the library commit hash or version string matches the fixed release; test file parsing with boundary-case HDF5 inputs to verify absence of crashes.

Typical attack path

1. Attacker creates malformed HDF5 file with invalid extent metadata
2. Victim application loads the file using the vulnerable HDF5 library
3. H5S_set_extent_simple invokes H5FL_arr_malloc during parsing
4. Out-of-bounds read executes, leading to crash or information disclosure

How to detect it

Review application crash logs and core dumps for references to H5FL.c or H5S.c during HDF5 processing; monitor for unexpected memory access violations in data-handling processes.

What your security team should do

• Immediately upgrade all instances of hdfgroup/hdf5 to the fixed commit
• Inventory and replace vulnerable copies in build pipelines and containers
• Add runtime checks or sandboxing around HDF5 file ingestion where feasible