CVE-2026-120756

Heap Buffer Over-read via Malformed Message Size in HDF5's H5O__chunk_deserialize

Published Nov 3, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 1.9 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
HDF5 through 2.2.0 contains a heap buffer over-read vulnerability in H5O__chunk_deserialize() in src/H5Ocache.c. When decoding object header messages, the declared message size is checked against the end of the chunk image before the remainder of the message header (flags, and for version 2 object headers, the optional creation index) has been decoded. Because the message body begins after these fields, a message can start up to four bytes further into the chunk than the size check accounts for. A crafted HDF5 file can declare a message size that passes the check but extends past the end of the chunk image, causing the message’s decode callback, for example H5O__mtime_new_decode() in src/H5Omtime.c, to read beyond the heap allocation. The flaw is reachable during H5Fopen() on a crafted file. An attacker who can get a user or application to open a malicious file can cause a denial of service or limited disclosure of process memory.

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
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:hdfgroup:hdf5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Hdfgroup
Hdfgroup hdf5
Vendors & Products Hdfgroup
Hdfgroup hdf5
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description HDF5 through 2.2.0 contains a heap buffer over-read vulnerability in H5O__chunk_deserialize() in src/H5Ocache.c. When decoding object header messages, the declared message size is checked against the end of the chunk image before the remainder of the message header (flags, and for version 2 object headers, the optional creation index) has been decoded. Because the message body begins after these fields, a message can start up to four bytes further into the chunk than the size check accounts for. A crafted HDF5 file can declare a message size that passes the check but extends past the end of the chunk image, causing the message’s decode callback, for example H5O__mtime_new_decode() in src/H5Omtime.c, to read beyond the heap allocation. The flaw is reachable during H5Fopen() on a crafted file. An attacker who can get a user or application to open a malicious file can cause a denial of service or limited disclosure of process memory.
Title Heap Buffer Over-read via Malformed Message Size in HDF5's H5O__chunk_deserialize
Weaknesses CWE-125
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 1.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
HDFG
Published
Updated
Nov 3, 2026, 5:55 PM
Reserved
Nov 2, 2026, 9:30 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Nov 3, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Nov 3, 2026, 9:09 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Nov 3, 2026, 3:32 PM