CVE-2026-120689

Uncontrolled Recursion in HDF5 H5B__iterate_helper() via Crafted File

Published Nov 2, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 4.3 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
HDF5 through 2.2.0 contains an uncontrolled recursion vulnerability in H5B__iterate_helper() in src/H5B.c. When iterating a version 1 B-tree, the function does not verify that a child node’s level matches the expected level. That check is performed only in H5B__cache_deserialize() when a node is first loaded into the metadata cache. A crafted HDF5 file whose B-tree child pointer refers back to a node already in the cache, such as a node that points to itself, bypasses the check and causes unbounded recursion, leading to stack exhaustion and a crash. This can be triggered by calling H5Gget_info() or H5Gget_num_objs() on a group in the crafted file, which reaches H5B_iterate() through H5G__obj_info() and H5G__stab_count(). An attacker who can get a user or application to open a malicious file can cause a denial of service.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-835
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Hdfgroup
Hdfgroup hdf5
Weaknesses CWE-665
Vendors & Products Hdfgroup
Hdfgroup hdf5
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-674
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description HDF5 through 2.2.0 contains an uncontrolled recursion vulnerability in H5B__iterate_helper() in src/H5B.c. When iterating a version 1 B-tree, the function does not verify that a child node’s level matches the expected level. That check is performed only in H5B__cache_deserialize() when a node is first loaded into the metadata cache. A crafted HDF5 file whose B-tree child pointer refers back to a node already in the cache, such as a node that points to itself, bypasses the check and causes unbounded recursion, leading to stack exhaustion and a crash. This can be triggered by calling H5Gget_info() or H5Gget_num_objs() on a group in the crafted file, which reaches H5B_iterate() through H5G__obj_info() and H5G__stab_count(). An attacker who can get a user or application to open a malicious file can cause a denial of service.
Title Uncontrolled Recursion in HDF5 H5B__iterate_helper() via Crafted File
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 4.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
HDFG
Published
Updated
Nov 2, 2026, 7:52 PM
Reserved
Nov 2, 2026, 7:32 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Nov 2, 2026, 8:17 PM
Modified
Nov 3, 2026, 4:25 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Nov 2, 2026, 7:39 PM