# CVE-2022-43607: Open Babel has out-of-bounds write in MOL2 attribute/value parser

> An out-of-bounds write in Open Babel allows arbitrary code execution via a specially crafted MOL2 file.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 21 Jul 2023
- **Updated:** 24 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2022-43607, GHSA-vjg6-gm8m-v5g6, PYSEC-2026-2792, UBUNTU-CVE-2022-43607

## What is CVE-2022-43607?

CVE-2022-43607 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Open Babel, published on 21 Jul 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists in the MOL2 format attribute and value functionality of Open Babel 3.1.1 and master commit 530dbfa3. A specially crafted malformed file can lead to arbitrary code execution. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-43607?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including openbabel. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openbabel` | PyPI | All versions | 3.2.0 |
| `openbabel` | PyPI | All versions | 3.2.0 |
| `openbabel` | PyPI | All versions | 3.2.0 |

Products: Openbabel Open Babel.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-43607?

Upgrade openbabel to 3.2.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2022-43607 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-43607 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Open Babel

- [CVE-2022-41793](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-41793/): Open Babel has out-of-bounds write in CSR PadString (title field) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-42885](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-42885/): Open Babel has uninitialized pointer dereference in GRO residue parser (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-43467](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43467/): Open Babel has out-of-bounds write in PQS coord_file parser (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-44451](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44451/): Open Babel has uninitialized pointer dereference in MSI atom parser (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-46280](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-46280/): Open Babel has uninitialized pointer dereference in PQS pFormat (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-43607 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-43607 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Open Babel, published on 21 Jul 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-43607 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- openbabel (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.2.0
- openbabel (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.2.0
- openbabel (PyPI): affected all versions; fixed in 3.2.0

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43607/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43607/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-43607
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-43607
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-43607

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43607/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.