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🛡️ CVE-2026-2704 — open-babel

🟡 CVSS 4.3 — Medium ⚠️ Exploit Public CWE-119 NVD
4.3
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

Open Babel has an out-of-bounds read in CIF transform3d::DescribeAsString

> ### Summary

>

> A memory-safety vulnerability in Open Babel's CIF file format parser

> allowed an out-of-bounds read when reading a crafted input file.

>

> ### Details

>

> The flaw was in OpenBabel::transform3d::DescribeAsString. A malformed

> symmetry-operation string caused the parser to read past the end of its

> internal buffer while formatting the description.

>

> ### Impact

>

> Open Babel is a C++ library and CLI used to read and write chemistry

> file formats; it is shipped by Linux distributions and embedded in

> services that may parse untrusted input. Triggering this vulnerability

> requires the victim to open a malicious CIF file with the obabel

> tool, the OBConversion API, or any of the language bindings.

>

> ### Affected versions

>

> All releases up to and including 3.1.1.

>

> ### Patched version

>

> 3.2.0 (released 2026-05-26).

>

> ### Patch

>

> Fix commit: https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/commit/e23a224b

> Tracked in #2862.

>

> A minimized reproducer for this CVE is checked in at

> test/files/fuzz_regress/cve-2026-2704.cif and is exercised on every

> CI build under ASAN+UBSAN by the fuzzregresstest harness.

>

> ### Credit

>

> Reported by Vedant Madane (@VedantMadane).

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. A user must be tricked into taking some action. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality none, integrity none, availability low.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

  • Attack vector: Network — reachable from anywhere that can route to the service.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: None — an unauthenticated stranger can try it.
  • User interaction: Required — someone has to click, open or visit something.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: None.
  • Integrity impact: None.
  • Availability impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.

Weakness class

CVE-2026-2704 is classified as CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within Memory Buffer Bounds. A read or write is performed without confirming it stays inside the allocated buffer, corrupting adjacent memory.

Affected software

CVE-2026-2704 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • open-babel (fixed in 3.1.1)
  • openbabel (fixed in 3.2.0)

Timeline and source

Published on 19 February 2026 and last revised on 17 June 2026. A public exploit is known to exist, which raises the urgency of patching considerably. Record sourced from NVD.

References

github.com
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vuldb.com
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vuldb.com

Other advisories for this package

open-babel has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

Same weakness in other software

These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within Memory Buffer Bounds) in other software:

CVE-2026-2704 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity MEDIUM
CVSS Score 4.3
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
CWE CWE-119
Public Exploit ⚠️ Yes
Source NVD
Published 2026-02-19
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-06-17
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
open-babel — 3.1.1
openbabel — 3.2.0

Similar Threats

Exploit Protection

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CVE-2026-2704 carries CVSS 4.3 Medium rating and a public exploit already exists. BotEraser checks your installation against this and other known CVE records, and blocks IPs associated with exploit activity.

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