Vulnerability 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.
CVSS Score
HIGH
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Samtools | Samtools | >= 1.17, <= 1.21.1 |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://github.com/samtools/samtools/commit/06fc2a219b3d7c94d3f412c09f6d1efd5119Patch
- https://github.com/samtools/samtools/security/advisories/GHSA-x86f-q6fj-cm43Vendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/03/18/12Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-31973?
CVE-2026-31973 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). 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 com...
How severe is CVE-2026-31973?
CVE-2026-31973 has been rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.5/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-31973?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Samtools Samtools.