CVE-2022-37331Network attack vector

Code execution via Gaussian orientation buffer overflow

Published Jul 21, 2023 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Out-of-bounds write in Open Babel 3.1.1 and master commit 530dbfa3 allows attackers to execute code via a malformed Gaussian file. In GaussianOutputFormat::ReadMolecule, a 24-byte orientation token is copied into the 25-byte coords_type stack buffer before strcat appends 13 more bytes. Processing the file with the obabel converter or an embedding service triggers the overwrite, which can corrupt the process stack and permit code execution.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.68%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in Open Babel 3.1.1 and master commit 530dbfa3 allows attackers to execute code via a malformed Gaussian file. In GaussianOutputFormat::ReadMolecule, a 24-byte orientation token is copied into the 25-byte coords_type stack buffer before strcat appends 13 more bytes. Processing the file with the obabel converter or an embedding service triggers the overwrite, which can corrupt the process stack and permit code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-37331
Published
Jul 21, 2023
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Open Babel
Product
Open Babel
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-119, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.1.1
  2. Affected versionversion=master commit 530dbfa3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Open Babel · Open Babelversion=3.1.1; version=master commit 530dbfa3

Published CVSS scores

7.3Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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