CVE-2026-31973

HIGH

7.5

Description

SAMtools is a program for reading, manipulating and writing bioinformatics file formats. Starting in version 1.17, in the cram-size command, used to write information about how well CRAM files are compressed, a check to see if the `cram_decode_compression_header()` was missing. If the function returned an error, this could lead to a NULL pointer dereference. Exploiting this bug causes a NULL pointer dereference. Typically this will cause the program to crash. Versions 1.23.1, 1.22.2 and 1.21.1 include fixes for this issue. There is no workaround for this issue.

CVE Details

CVSS v3.1 Score7.5

SeverityHIGH

CVSS VectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack VectorNETWORK

ComplexityLOW

Privileges RequiredNONE

User InteractionNONE

Published3/18/2026

Last Modified3/19/2026

Sourcenvd

Honeypot Sightings0

Affected Products

samtools:samtools

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-476

References

https://github.com/samtools/samtools/commit/06fc2a219b3d7c94d3f412c09f6d1efd51199f2f(security-advisories@github.com)

https://github.com/samtools/samtools/security/advisories/GHSA-x86f-q6fj-cm43(security-advisories@github.com)

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/03/18/12(af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108)

IOC Correlations

No correlations recorded

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