PT-2026-26154 · Samtools · Samtools

Robert Davies · CVE-2026-31973 · Published 2026-03-18 · Updated 2026-03-19

Positive Technologies (AI Summary)

CVSS v3.1

7.5

High

Base vector

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

Name of the Vulnerable Software and Affected Versions SAMtools versions 1.17 through 1.23.1 SAMtools version 1.21.1 SAMtools version 1.22.2

Description SAMtools is a program used for bioinformatics file manipulation. A missing check in the cram-size command, specifically related to the cram decode compression header() function, could lead to a NULL pointer dereference. This occurs when the function returns an error. Exploitation of this issue results in a program crash.

Recommendations Update to a version after 1.23.1. Update to version 1.23.1. Update to version 1.22.2. Update to version 1.21.1.

Exploit

Fix

NULL Pointer Dereference

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-476

Related Identifiers

CVE-2026-31973

GHSA-X86F-Q6FJ-CM43

Affected Products

Samtools

References · 13

• 🔥 https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/31xxx/CVE-2026-31973.json · Exploit
• https://github.com/samtools/samtools/security/advisories/GHSA-x86f-q6fj-cm43 · Vendor Advisory
• https://github.com/samtools/samtools/commit/06fc2a219b3d7c94d3f412c09f6d1efd51199f2f · Patch
• https://osv.dev/vulnerability/UBUNTU-CVE-2026-31973 · Vendor Advisory
• https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-31973 · Vendor Advisory
• https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-31973 · Vendor Advisory
• https://cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-31973 · Security Note
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31973 · Security Note
• https://osv.dev/vulnerability/DEBIAN-CVE-2026-31973 · Vendor Advisory
• https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-31973 · Vendor Advisory
• https://twitter.com/oss_security/status/2034422583328715001 · Twitter Post
• http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/03/18/12 · Note
• https://twitter.com/CVEnew/status/2034520428824215616 · Twitter Post