EUVD-2026-12938
CVSS Vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Lifecycle Timeline
4Description
HTSlib is a library for reading and writing bioinformatics file formats. CRAM is a compressed format which stores DNA sequence alignment data. In the `cram_decode_slice()` function called while reading CRAM records, the value of the mate reference id field was not validated. Later use of this value, for example when converting the data to SAM format, could result in the out of bounds array reads when looking up the corresponding reference name. If the array value obtained also happened to be a valid pointer, it would be interpreted as a string and an attempt would be made to write the data as part of the SAM record. This bug may allow information about program state to be leaked. It may also cause a program crash through an attempt to access invalid memory. Versions 1.23.1, 1.22.2 and 1.21.1 include fixes for this issue. There is no workaround for this issue.
Analysis
HTSlib versions prior to 1.23.1, 1.22.2, and 1.21.1 contain an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the CRAM file parser where the mate reference ID field is not validated during decoding. An attacker can craft a malicious CRAM file that, when processed by affected applications (particularly those converting CRAM to SAM format), triggers out-of-bounds array access that may leak sensitive information about program state or cause a denial of service through memory access violations. …
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Remediation
Within 30 days: Identify affected systems and apply vendor patches as part of regular patch cycle. Monitor vendor channels for patch availability.
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Priority Score
Vendor Status
Debian
| Release | Status | Fixed Version | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| bullseye | vulnerable | 1.11-4 | - |
| bookworm | vulnerable | 1.16+ds-3 | - |
| trixie | vulnerable | 1.21+ds-1 | - |
| forky, sid | vulnerable | 1.22.1+ds2-1 | - |
| (unstable) | fixed | (unfixed) | - |
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External POC / Exploit Code
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