diff --git a/cfgmgr/buffermgrdyn.cpp b/cfgmgr/buffermgrdyn.cpp
index adc97e5734..56a227a708 100644
--- a/cfgmgr/buffermgrdyn.cpp
+++ b/cfgmgr/buffermgrdyn.cpp
@@ -325,10 +325,13 @@ void BufferMgrDynamic::loadZeroPoolAndProfiles()
                         auto &poolObj = poolSearchRef->second;
                         if (poolObj.zero_profile_name.empty())
                         {
+                        if(poolObj.direction>= 0 && poolObj.direction <= 2) // ensuring the poolpbj.direction will not get out of boundaries
+                                 {
                             poolObj.zero_profile_name = key;
                             if (m_bufferZeroProfileName[poolObj.direction].empty())
                                 m_bufferZeroProfileName[poolObj.direction] = poolObj.zero_profile_name;
                         }
+                        }
                         else
                         {
                             SWSS_LOG_ERROR("Multiple zero profiles (%s, %s) detected for pool %s, takes the former and ignores the latter",