CVE-2026-26197: Array full size, element count, and element size are not checked to make sure they match in H5Odtype.c

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-26197 is a high (CVSS 7.5) Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability in hdfgroup hdf5. EPSS estimates a 0.37% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 30.5% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 20-07-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 20-07-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

HDF5 is a high-performance library and a file format specification that implements the HDF5 data model. If a file is corrupted such that an array datatype's size, the number of elements, and the element size are not in agreement it can trigger an out of bounds read. The array datatype stores the full size of the datatype (`dt->shared->size`) separately from the number of elements (`dt->shared->u.array.nelem`) and the element size (`dt->shared->parent->shared->size`). If any one of these are corrupted so that they don't align with the others (element size * nelem = full size), it can lead to an out of bounds read. Depending on what is corrupted, it can alter the type of out of bounds read triggered. The vulnerability is present only in files that have been maliciously altered, as its generally not possible to independently alter the full size of the datatype, the element count and the element size. As such, this is only present if a malicious actor is altering files, and won't appear in regular usage.

• CWE-125Out-of-bounds ReadThe product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.