Description
HDF5 through 2.2.0 contains a heap buffer over-read vulnerability in H5L__extern_traverse() in src/H5Lexternal.c, the default traversal callback for external links. The callback locates the target file name and object path within the link’s user data using strlen() without validating the buffer against its stored size (udata_size, which was marked unused). A crafted HDF5 file containing an external link whose data is not NULL-terminated, or is too short to hold both strings, causes strlen() to read past the end of the udata heap buffer, and the derived object path pointer may also point outside the buffer. The overrun is unbounded and continues until a zero byte is found. The flaw is triggered when the malicious link is traversed, for example when opening an object through it. An attacker who can get a user or application to access a crafted file can cause a denial of service, and adjacent heap contents may be incorporated into the external file name or object path the library attempts to open.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| The HDF Group | HDF5 | < 2.3.0 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 13 | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Hardened Images 1 | hdf5 +9 | 2.2.0-0.1.5.hum1 | RHSA-2026:94898 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | hdf5 | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2026:94898 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs Security Update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 13, 2026