CVE-2022-43467Public exploit

Arbitrary code execution via unchecked path concatenation

Published Jul 21, 2023 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Out-of-bounds write in Open Babel 3.1.1 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PQS file. In PQSFormat::ReadMolecule, an unbounded strcat appends the attacker-controlled relative coord_file value to a 256-byte stack buffer that can already contain the input file's directory. Execution requires an application, binding, or service to parse the malicious file; the overwrite can corrupt the process stack and execute code in that process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.83%
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 earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PQS file. In PQSFormat::ReadMolecule, an unbounded strcat appends the attacker-controlled relative coord_file value to a 256-byte stack buffer that can already contain the input file's directory. Execution requires an application, binding, or service to parse the malicious file; the overwrite can corrupt the process stack and execute code in that process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-43467
Published
Jul 21, 2023
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Open Babel
Product
Open Babel
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-119, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

9.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Open Babel GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
T1204.002Malicious File
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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