# CVE-2022-46280: Open Babel uninitialized pointer dereference in PQS parser

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-46280-open-babel-uninitialized-pointer-dereference-in-pqs-parser  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-01. Updated: 2026-07-01  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2022-46280 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-07-01

Open Babel, a widely used library for converting chemical and molecular data formats, contains a memory safety flaw in its PQS file parser. An attacker could provide a specially crafted PQS file that, when opened by a user or processed by a service using this library, could lead to a program crash or potentially allow the execution of unauthorized code. This affects researchers and organizations using Open Babel for chemistry data analysis or web-based molecule viewers.

Technologies: [openbabel (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openbabel). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2022-46280 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2022-46280 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2022-46280?** 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-2022-46280?** 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-2022-46280 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2022-46280?** 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

  ```sh
  pip install "openbabel>=3.2.0"
  ```


## Technical details

A memory-safety vulnerability exists in Open Babel's PQS parser due to an uninitialized pointer dereference in the `pFormat` handling of the PQS reader. The flaw occurs within `PQSFormat::ReadMolecule` in `formats/PQSformat.cpp` when processing malformed input that causes the parser to access a format pointer before it has been properly initialized. An attacker can exploit this by providing a crafted PQS file to be processed via the `obabel` CLI tool, the `OBConversion` API, or any of the library's language bindings (Python, Ruby, Java, etc.). Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution or a crash. The issue is addressed in version 3.2.0 by ensuring the pointer is initialized to `nullptr` and verified before use.

## Affected products

- Open Babel Open Babel Up to and including 3.1.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2022-46280
- GHSA-8qxc-57hf-hc9j
- PYSEC-2026-2777

## 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

- [https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/security/advisories/GHSA-8qxc-57hf-hc9j](https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/security/advisories/GHSA-8qxc-57hf-hc9j)
- [https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/commit/2a7d2cda8bd47daade2e555e34b69651a2e132ef](https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/commit/2a7d2cda8bd47daade2e555e34b69651a2e132ef)
- [https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2022-1670](https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2022-1670)
- [https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2022-1670](https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2022-1670)
- [https://api.github.com/repos/openbabel/openbabel/security-advisories/GHSA-8qxc-57hf-hc9j](https://api.github.com/repos/openbabel/openbabel/security-advisories/GHSA-8qxc-57hf-hc9j)

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