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-2026-31973
HIGHNVD 7.57.5Trending — 3 sources updated this week
EchelonGraph scoreLOW confidence
This high-severity CVE scores 7.5 under NVD CVSS v3. EPSS exploit-prediction score not yet available (the EPSS model rescores nightly; freshly-published CVEs typically appear within 48 hours). GitHub Security Advisory data not yet ingested — confidence will rise once GHSA publishes (typical lag: hours to days for open-source ecosystem CVEs; never for infrastructure-only CVEs).
Triggered by: NVD CVSS baseline
Sources: nvd
7.5EG
EchelonGraph verdictPlan a fixSerious severity, but no confirmed exploitation yet.
- High severity, but no confirmed exploitation yet
CISA-KEV: Not listedEPSS PROB: 1%CVSS: 7.5Exploit: None knownExposed: 0
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v3
- 7.5
- EG Score
- 7.5(low)
- EG Risk
- 38(Track)EG Risk 38/100SSVC: Track
EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).
How it’s computedSeverity75% × 45%Exploitation0% × 40%Automatability30% × 15%Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence. - EPSS PROB
- 1%
- EPSS %ILE
- 41%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
March 18, 2026
Last Modified
June 17, 2026
References (3)
- security-advisories@githubhttps://github.com/samtools/samtools/commit/06fc2a219b3d7c94d3f412c09f6d1efd51199f2f
- security-advisories@githubhttps://github.com/samtools/samtools/security/advisories/GHSA-x86f-q6fj-cm43
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/03/18/12
Weakness Classification(1)
MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration — the root-cause categories this CVE belongs to.
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 5× in last 7d / 5× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
- 2026-07-30 16:28 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-30 01:30 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-28 15:36 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-27 14:41 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-07-27 14:27 UTCOSV refresh
Related CVEs(same CWE)
Frequently asked(5)
What is CVE-2026-31973?
CVE-2026-31973 is a high vulnerability published on March 18, 2026. 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 cramdecodecompression_header() was missing. If the function returned…
When was CVE-2026-31973 disclosed?
CVE-2026-31973 was first published in the National Vulnerability Database on March 18, 2026, with the most recent update on June 17, 2026. EchelonGraph re-ingests CVE updates from NVD on a 2-hour cycle, so this page reflects the latest published state.
Is CVE-2026-31973 actively exploited?
CVE-2026-31973 is not currently on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. FIRST EPSS estimates a 1% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the top 58.6% of all scored CVEs.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-31973?
CVE-2026-31973 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.5 (NVD). The EG score is currently aggregating — additional source signals are being incorporated as they become available..
How do I remediate CVE-2026-31973?
Patch to the fixed version published by the affected vendor. Where vendor advisories exist for CVE-2026-31973, EchelonGraph cross-links them in the Vendor Advisories panel below — those typically contain the canonical remediation steps, fixed version numbers, and any vendor-specific mitigations.
Dependency Blast Radius
Explore the affected products and dependency analysis for CVE-2026-31973
Is Your Infrastructure Affected by CVE-2026-31973?
EchelonGraph automatically scans your cloud infrastructure and maps CVE exposure using blast radius analysis.