Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-11205 is an out-of-bounds read in HDF5 1.10.2. If a system processes a crafted HDF5 file, the flaw could cause a denial of service or expose memory contents. Business urgency depends on whether HDF5 files come from untrusted or automated external sources.
Executive priority
Prioritize review where HDF5 parsing is exposed to outside files or critical data workflows. Internal-only scientific tooling with trusted inputs is lower urgency but still needs inventory and vendor follow-up.
Technical view
The issue is reported in H5VM_memcpyvv in H5VM.c within HDF HDF5 1.10.2. The public description identifies out-of-bounds read behavior with possible remote denial of service or information disclosure. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, patch details, or affected CPE data.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in applications, pipelines, or services using HDF5 1.10.2 to parse HDF5 files from users, partners, research feeds, or automated imports.
Exploitation context
The source bundle links to a public fuzzing PoC repository, but KEV is false and no cited source states active exploitation. Treat exploit activity as unconfirmed.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and a fuzzing PoC reference. No CVSS, CWE, fixed release, or detailed affected product metadata is provided in the bundle, so exposure assessment should be validated locally.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory systems and packages using HDF5 1.10.2.
- Check HDF vendor guidance for fixed versions or official workarounds.
- Avoid processing untrusted HDF5 files until remediation is confirmed.
- Sandbox or isolate file parsing workflows where feasible.
- Monitor parsing services for crashes or unusual memory disclosure symptoms.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether HDF5 1.10.2 is present in SBOMs and builds.
- Identify externally reachable workflows that accept HDF5 files.
- Review application logs for HDF5 parsing crashes.
- Verify remediation against vendor documentation before closure.
- Record compensating controls for any delayed upgrades.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2018-11205 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/Twi1ight/fuzzing-pocs/tree/master/hdf5CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.