CVE-2022-43467: Open Babel out-of-bounds write in PQS coord_file parser

CVE-2022-43467 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-07-01

Open Babel, a widely used library for converting chemistry and molecular data files, contains a memory safety flaw in its PQS file format parser. An attacker could provide a specially crafted, malicious chemistry file that, when opened by a user or processed by a service using this library, could lead to unauthorized code execution or system crashes. This affects researchers and organizations using Open Babel for molecular modeling or chemical data analysis.

Technologies: openbabel (PyPI). Vendors: PyPI.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2022-43467 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2022-43467 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2022-43467?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 1 July 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
openbabel (PyPI) < 3.2.0, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=3.2.0.
Is there a fix for CVE-2022-43467?
Yes. openbabel (PyPI): upgrade to 3.2.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2022-43467 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in a software library.
Am I affected by CVE-2022-43467?
Check whether you run openbabel (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

How to fix

  • openbabel (PyPI): upgrade to 3.2.0 or later
    pip install "openbabel>=3.2.0"

Technical details

An out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in Open Babel's PQS format parser within the `coord_file` parsing logic in `formats/PQSformat.cpp`. The flaw is triggered when the parser encounters a malformed coordinate file specifier, leading to a buffer overflow as data is written past the end of a destination buffer (specifically involving unsafe `strcat` operations). While the NVD/GitHub CVSS reflects a local attack vector requiring user interaction (opening a file), the library is often embedded in web-based chemical converters, potentially extending the impact. The vulnerability was addressed in version 3.2.0 by replacing unsafe string operations with bounded alternatives like `strncat`.

Affected products

  • Open Babel Open Babel <= 3.1.1

Identifiers

  • CVE-2022-43467
  • GHSA-f29h-2h58-48r7
  • PYSEC-2026-2779

Timeline

  • 2023-07-21: disclosed: Initial Talos report published
  • 2026-05-26: patched: Version 3.2.0 released
  • 2026-07-01: advisory: GitHub Advisory published

References

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