OSV-2025-729 UNKNOWN READ in sam_hrecs_free_tags
Not scored
Published
Check this codebase for OSV-2025-729 and fix it if it is affected.
What it is: OSV-2025-729 is a memory corruption vulnerability in htslib, published on 13 Sep 2025.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of OSV-2025-729 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Affected packages and fixed versions:
- htslib (OSS-Fuzz): affected all versions; no fix listed
Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.
Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/OSV-2025-729/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/OSV-2025-729/index.md)
A memory corruption vulnerability in the SAM header parser allows attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted input.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Not stated
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is OSV-2025-729?
OSV-2025-729 is a memory corruption vulnerability in htslib, published on 13 Sep 2025.
Official description
OSS-Fuzz report: https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=444492076
Crash type: UNKNOWN READ
Crash state:
sam_hrecs_free_tags
sam_hrecs_parse_single_line
sam_hdr_build_from_sam_file
Which versions are affected by OSV-2025-729?
1 open source package ship an affected version, including htslib.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
htslib OSS-Fuzz | All versions | None |
How do I fix OSV-2025-729?
No fix has been published for OSV-2025-729 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is OSV-2025-729 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of OSV-2025-729 in the wild and no public exploit code.