CVE-2022-42885Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Code execution via uninitialized residue pointer

Published Jul 21, 2023 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Memory corruption in Open Babel 3.1.1 allows attackers to execute code when the converter or API parses a crafted GRO file. GROFormat::ReadMolecule treats an initial residue ID of zero as an existing residue, then calls AddAtom and SetAtomID through an uninitialized res pointer. Exploitation requires the CLI, API, or language bindings to parse the malicious file; Talos demonstrated a crash and found that the stack pointer can enable arbitrary code execution.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Open Babel 3.1.1 allows attackers to execute code when the converter or API parses a crafted GRO file. GROFormat::ReadMolecule treats an initial residue ID of zero as an existing residue, then calls AddAtom and SetAtomID through an uninitialized res pointer. Exploitation requires the CLI, API, or language bindings to parse the malicious file; Talos demonstrated a crash and found that the stack pointer can enable arbitrary code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-42885
Published
Jul 21, 2023
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Open Babel
Product
Open Babel
Classifications
CWE-824, 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

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-824Access of Uninitialized Pointer
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

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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