CVE-2022-46289Public exploit

Code execution via ORCA nAtoms integer wrap-around

Published Jul 21, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in Open Babel 3.1.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying a malformed ORCA file. OrcaOutputFormat::ReadMolecule stores an input-controlled nAtoms value as int, multiplies it by three before allocation, and writes coordinate triples into the underallocated confCoords heap buffer after the multiplication wraps. Exploitation requires the file to be parsed by obabel or an application using the library; direct network reachability depends on the embedding application.

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

Heap-based buffer overflow in Open Babel 3.1.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying a malformed ORCA file. OrcaOutputFormat::ReadMolecule stores an input-controlled nAtoms value as int, multiplies it by three before allocation, and writes coordinate triples into the underallocated confCoords heap buffer after the multiplication wraps. Exploitation requires the file to be parsed by obabel or an application using the library; direct network reachability depends on the embedding application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-46289
Published
Jul 21, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Open Babel
Product
Open Babel
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-122, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 2025Record 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
7.8NIST 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-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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