# CVE-2016-4331: Memory corruption in n/a

> A memory corruption vulnerability in the HDF5 library allows arbitrary code execution when decoding NBIT-encoded datasets.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 18 Nov 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-4331, GHSA-4hhr-jhmc-r3cj, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-4331

## What is CVE-2016-4331?

CVE-2016-4331 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Hdfgroup Hdf5, published on 18 Nov 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

When decoding data out of a dataset encoded with the H5Z_NBIT decoding, the HDF5 1.8.16 library will fail to ensure that the precision is within the bounds of the size leading to arbitrary code execution.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-4331?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Hdfgroup Hdf5.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-4331?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2016-4331 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-4331 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Hdfgroup Hdf5

- [CVE-2024-32608](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-32608/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-29157](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29157/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-29159](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29159/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-29164](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29164/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-32611](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-32611/): Other in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-4331 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-4331 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Hdfgroup Hdf5, published on 18 Nov 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-4331 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Hdfgroup Hdf5. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4331/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4331/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4331
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4331
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-4331

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4331/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.