CVE-2022-43607Public exploit

Code execution via unbounded MOL2 attribute parsing

Published Jul 21, 2023 · Updated Oct 24, 2024

Out-of-bounds write in Open Babel 3.1.1 and master commit 530dbfa3 allows context-dependent attackers to execute code via a crafted MOL2 file. MOL2Format::ReadMolecule uses unbounded sscanf conversions to copy attacker-controlled attribute and value strings into two 32-byte stack buffers. Triggering the overwrite requires comment handling to be enabled, such as with obabel's -ac option, and execution occurs in the parsing process's security context.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.78%
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 context-dependent attackers to execute code via a crafted MOL2 file. MOL2Format::ReadMolecule uses unbounded sscanf conversions to copy attacker-controlled attribute and value strings into two 32-byte stack buffers. Triggering the overwrite requires comment handling to be enabled, such as with obabel's -ac option, and execution occurs in the parsing process's security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-43607
Published
Jul 21, 2023
Updated
Oct 24, 2024
Vendor
Open Babel
Product
Open Babel
Classifications
CWE-119, CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 24, 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

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.1Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS: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-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
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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