Samtools v1.22.1 Memory Meltdown: How Oversized BED Intervals Can Crash Your System!
In a twist worthy of a cybersecurity sitcom, Samtools and HTSlib have been caught in a denial-of-service drama. By feeding them a BED file with a comically large interval value, users can unintentionally send these tools into a memory allocation meltdown. It’s like trying to fit a hippo into a Mini Cooper—disastrous yet oddly amusing.
Hot Take:
Who knew that BED files could be such a nightmare? Apparently, even DNA sequencing tools like Samtools need a cozy security blanket. It’s 2023, and we’re still letting oversized BED intervals crash our party—someone get the bouncers!
Key Points:
- Samtools and HTSlib are vulnerable to a denial-of-service attack due to BED file processing issues.
- Uncontrolled memory allocation is triggered by large interval values in BED files.
- The vulnerability can terminate processes by causing allocation failures.
- Attackers can exploit this using crafted BED records with massive end coordinates.
- The issue affects automated pipelines and users tricked into loading malicious data.
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