CVE-2025-2310 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in version 1.14.6 of the HDF5 library, specifically within the function H5MM_strndup of the Metadata Attribute Decoder component. HDF5 is a widely used data model, library, and file format designed for storing and managing large and complex data collections, commonly utilized in scientific computing, engineering, and data-intensive research. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of string duplication operations, leading to a heap buffer overflow when processing metadata attributes. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges (local attack vector with low privileges) and does not require user interaction or elevated authentication. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 4.8, indicating a medium severity level. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent due to the local attack vector and the need for local privileges. Although the vendor has not yet released a patch, they plan to address the issue in an upcoming release. No known exploits are currently observed in the wild, but public disclosure of the exploit code increases the risk of future exploitation. The vulnerability could allow an attacker with local access to cause memory corruption, potentially leading to application crashes or arbitrary code execution within the context of the affected process. Given the nature of HDF5's usage in critical scientific and industrial environments, exploitation could disrupt data processing workflows or compromise sensitive data integrity if leveraged by malicious insiders or through compromised local accounts.

For European organizations, especially those involved in scientific research, engineering, healthcare, and industries relying on large-scale data analysis, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily through insider threats or compromised local accounts. The impact includes potential denial of service through application crashes or, in worst cases, arbitrary code execution that could lead to data corruption or unauthorized data manipulation. While remote exploitation is not feasible, the presence of this vulnerability on workstations, servers, or HPC clusters used in research institutions or industrial environments could disrupt critical operations. The confidentiality impact is limited due to the local attack requirement, but integrity and availability could be significantly affected if exploited. Organizations handling sensitive research data or industrial control data should be particularly cautious, as corrupted metadata could lead to erroneous results or operational failures. The medium CVSS score reflects these factors, but the criticality may increase in environments where local access controls are weak or where HDF5 is integrated into larger systems with broader access.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately audit and restrict local access to systems running HDF5 1.14.6, ensuring only trusted users have local login capabilities. 2) Implement strict privilege separation and monitoring on systems where HDF5 is used, detecting anomalous behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. 3) Use application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to prevent execution of unauthorized code resulting from exploitation. 4) Where feasible, isolate HDF5 processing environments from general user environments to minimize risk exposure. 5) Monitor vendor communications closely and plan for rapid deployment of the forthcoming patch once released. 6) Conduct code reviews and testing of applications using HDF5 to identify if they invoke the vulnerable function and consider temporary workarounds such as disabling or sandboxing metadata attribute decoding if possible. 7) Educate local users and administrators about the risk of local exploitation and enforce strong authentication and session management policies to reduce the likelihood of compromised local accounts.