CVE-2022-46294Public exploit

Code execution via unchecked translation-vector indexing

Published Jul 21, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Out-of-bounds write in Open Babel 3.1.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying a crafted MOPAC Cartesian file. The MOPACCART ReadMolecule path treats each Tv atom as a translation vector and increments numTranslationVectors without checking the three-slot stack array. Exploitation requires the malicious file to be opened through obabel, the OBConversion API, or a language binding; resulting stack corruption enables code execution.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.85%
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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying a crafted MOPAC Cartesian file. The MOPACCART ReadMolecule path treats each Tv atom as a translation vector and increments numTranslationVectors without checking the three-slot stack array. Exploitation requires the malicious file to be opened through obabel, the OBConversion API, or a language binding; resulting stack corruption enables code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-46294
Published
Jul 21, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Open Babel
Product
Open Babel
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-119, T1203
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

7.8GitHubCVSS: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
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 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
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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