CVE-2026-2704 in Open Babel
Summary
by MITRE • 02/19/2026
A security vulnerability has been detected in Open Babel up to 3.1.1. The affected element is the function OpenBabel::transform3d::DescribeAsString of the file src/math/transform3d.cpp of the component CIF File Handler. The manipulation leads to out-of-bounds read. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed publicly and may be used. Upgrading to version 3.2.0 is sufficient to fix this issue. The identifier of the patch is e23a224b8fd9d7c2a7cde9ef4ec6afb4c05aa08a. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2026
The security vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-2704 represents a critical out-of-bounds read condition within the Open Babel chemical data processing library version 3.1.1 and earlier. This flaw exists within the CIF File Handler component, specifically in the OpenBabel::transform3d::DescribeAsString function located in src/math/transform3d.cpp. The vulnerability arises when processing certain CIF (Crystallographic Information File) formatted data, which is commonly used in crystallography and materials science applications to store structural information about crystals and molecular structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the DescribeAsString function, which processes 3D transformation data during CIF file parsing operations. When malformed or specially crafted CIF data is processed, the function attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially leading to information disclosure or system instability. This out-of-bounds read condition creates a potential attack surface that can be exploited remotely through network-based file processing operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Open Babel is used to process untrusted input data from external sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it enables adversaries to potentially extract sensitive information from memory locations adjacent to the vulnerable buffer. This could include cryptographic keys, temporary data, or other sensitive information stored in memory. The public disclosure of exploitation techniques means that threat actors can readily leverage this vulnerability without requiring advanced exploitation skills, significantly increasing the risk to affected systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability through the CIF File Handler component means that any application or service utilizing Open Babel for CIF file processing could be compromised when encountering malicious input.
Security mitigation efforts should focus on immediate patch application, with the recommended fix being the commit e23a224b8fd9d7c2a7cde9ef4ec6afb4c05aa08a that addresses the specific bounds checking issue in the transform3d.cpp file. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation for CIF files, sandboxing file processing operations, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index bounds, and represents a potential pathway for attackers to follow the ATT&CK technique of privilege escalation through memory corruption vulnerabilities. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of services that process external CIF data, as the vulnerability affects core functionality used in scientific computing and materials research environments where untrusted data processing is common.