CDF: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

Background

CDF is a library for the Common Data Format which is a self-describing data format for the storage and manipulation of scalar and multidimensional data. It is developed by the NASA.

Description

Leon Juranic reported multiple heap-based buffer overflows for instance in the ReadAEDRList64(), SearchForRecord_r_64(), LastRecord64(), and CDFsel64() functions.

Impact

A remote attacker could entice a user to open a specially crafted CDF file, possibly resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application, or a Denial of Service.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All CDF users should upgrade to the latest version:

 # emerge --sync
 # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=sci-libs/cdf-3.3.0"