CVE-2026-31962

HTSlib CRAM reader has heap buffer overflow due to improper validation of input

Published Mar 18, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
HTSlib is a library for reading and writing bioinformatics file formats. CRAM is a compressed format which stores DNA sequence alignment data. While most alignment records store DNA sequence and quality values, the format also allows them to omit this data in certain cases to save space. Due to some quirks of the CRAM format, it is necessary to handle these records carefully as they will actually store data that needs to be consumed and then discarded. Unfortunately the `cram_decode_seq()` did not handle this correctly in some cases. Where this happened it could result in reading a single byte from beyond the end of a heap allocation, followed by writing a single attacker-controlled byte to the same location. Exploiting this bug causes a heap buffer overflow. If a user opens a file crafted to exploit this issue, it could lead to the program crashing, or overwriting of data and heap structures in ways not expected by the program. It may be possible to use this to obtain arbitrary code execution. Versions 1.23.1, 1.22.2 and 1.21.1 include fixes for this issue. There is no workaround for this issue.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Htslib
Htslib htslib
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:htslib:htslib:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:htslib:htslib:1.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Htslib
Htslib htslib
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Samtools
Samtools htslib
Vendors & Products Samtools
Samtools htslib
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-1284
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description HTSlib is a library for reading and writing bioinformatics file formats. CRAM is a compressed format which stores DNA sequence alignment data. While most alignment records store DNA sequence and quality values, the format also allows them to omit this data in certain cases to save space. Due to some quirks of the CRAM format, it is necessary to handle these records carefully as they will actually store data that needs to be consumed and then discarded. Unfortunately the `cram_decode_seq()` did not handle this correctly in some cases. Where this happened it could result in reading a single byte from beyond the end of a heap allocation, followed by writing a single attacker-controlled byte to the same location. Exploiting this bug causes a heap buffer overflow. If a user opens a file crafted to exploit this issue, it could lead to the program crashing, or overwriting of data and heap structures in ways not expected by the program. It may be possible to use this to obtain arbitrary code execution. Versions 1.23.1, 1.22.2 and 1.21.1 include fixes for this issue. There is no workaround for this issue.
Title HTSlib CRAM reader has heap buffer overflow due to improper validation of input
Weaknesses CWE-122
CWE-125
CWE-129
CWE-787
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
Mar 18, 2026, 6:37 PM
Reserved
Mar 10, 2026, 3:40 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Mar 18, 2026, 6:16 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 10:34 AM
Severity
Important
Public date
Mar 18, 2026, 6:08 PM