---
id: CVE-2026-2704
title: 'Open Babel has an out-of-bounds read in CIF transform3d::DescribeAsString'
summary: 'Open Babel has an out-of-bounds read in CIF transform3d::DescribeAsString'
severity: low
cvss: 4.4
cwe:
  - CWE-119
  - CWE-125
vendor: openbabel
product: openbabel
ecosystem: pip
affected:
  - openbabel < 3.2.0
patched:
  - openbabel 3.2.0
published: '2026-06-30'
updated: '2026-06-30'
source: GHSA
sourceUrl: 'https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-6xw4-2g22-26h8'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/security/advisories/GHSA-6xw4-2g22-26h8
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-2704'
  - url: 'https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/issues/2848'
  - url: 'https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/pull/2862'
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/VedantMadane/openbabel/commit/e23a224b8fd9d7c2a7cde9ef4ec6afb4c05aa08a
  - url: 'https://github.com/oneafter/0128/blob/main/ob1/repro.cif'
  - url: 'https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/releases/tag/openbabel-3-2-0'
  - url: 'https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.346650'
  - url: 'https://vuldb.com/?id.346650'
  - url: 'https://vuldb.com/?submit.754378'
  - url: 'https://vuldb.com/submit/754378'
  - url: 'https://vuldb.com/vuln/346650'
  - url: 'https://vuldb.com/vuln/346650/cti'
  - url: 'https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-6xw4-2g22-26h8'
tags:
  - ghsa
  - pip
epss: 0.00789
epssPercentile: 0.54271
ingestedAt: '2026-06-30T21:24:14.387Z'
---

## Overview

> ### 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).

## Affected packages

- `openbabel < 3.2.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade to a patched release:

- `openbabel 3.2.0`