CVE-2026-2704: Openbabel :DescribeAsString Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6xw4-2g22-26h8
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CVSS 4.4
CWE-125 CWE-119
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-2704 is a LOW (CVSS 4.4) :describeasstring vulnerability (CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read) affecting Openbabel libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves :describeasstring. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.2.0.

CVE-2026-2704 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-2704
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6xw4-2g22-26h8
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.4
CWE Classification CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read
Affected Product Openbabel
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.4

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability Low (A:L)

How to Fix CVE-2026-2704

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Openbabel dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openbabel fixed: 3.2.0 
pip install openbabel>=3.2.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

pip show openbabel

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2026-2704, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show openbabel

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Openbabel in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.2.0), your application is affected.

Note: The pip show openbabel command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, where the product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. In Openbabel, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

> ### 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).

CVE-2026-2704 Affected Openbabel Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.2.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openbabel
pypi/openbabel
PyPI
< 3.2.0
3.2.0

References

vuldb.com/vuln/346650/cti WEB
https://vuldb.com/vuln/346650/cti
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/security/advisories/GHSA-6xw4-2g22-26h8
NVD — CVE-2026-2704 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-2704
Openbabel Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/issues/2848
Openbabel Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/pull/2862
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/VedantMadane/openbabel/commit/e23a224b8fd9d7c2a7cde9ef4ec6afb4c05aa08a
Openbabel Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/oneafter/0128/blob/main/ob1/repro.cif
Openbabel Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel
Openbabel Release RELEASE
https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/releases/tag/openbabel-3-2-0
vuldb.com/ WEB
https://vuldb.com/?id.346650
vuldb.com/ WEB
https://vuldb.com/?submit.754378
vuldb.com/submit/754378 WEB
https://vuldb.com/submit/754378
vuldb.com/vuln/346650 WEB
https://vuldb.com/vuln/346650
vuldb.com/ WEB
https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.346650

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-2704?
CVE-2026-2704 is a security vulnerability in Openbabel involving :DescribeAsString under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read.
Which Openbabel versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.2.0 across affected packages: openbabel.
What version fixes CVE-2026-2704?
Upgrading to 3.2.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openbabel affected?
Yes, openbabel is affected in releases prior to 3.2.0. Upgrade your dependency to 3.2.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-2704?
CVE-2026-2704 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.4 (LOW) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-2704?
CVE-2026-2704 is classified under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read (The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2026-2704?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show openbabel'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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  "id" : "GHSA-6xw4-2g22-26h8",
  "modified" : "2026-06-30T18:46:12Z",
  "published" : "2026-06-30T18:46:12Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-2704" ],
  "summary" : "Open Babel has an out-of-bounds read in CIF transform3d::DescribeAsString",
  "details" : "> ### Summary\n>\n> A memory-safety vulnerability in Open Babel's CIF file format parser\n> allowed an out-of-bounds read when reading a crafted input file.\n>\n> ### Details\n>\n> The flaw was in `OpenBabel::transform3d::DescribeAsString`. A malformed\n> symmetry-operation string caused the parser to read past the end of its\n> internal buffer while formatting the description.\n>\n> ### Impact\n>\n> Open Babel is a C++ library and CLI used to read and write chemistry\n> file formats; it is shipped by Linux distributions and embedded in\n> services that may parse untrusted input. Triggering this vulnerability\n> requires the victim to open a malicious CIF file with the `obabel`\n> tool, the OBConversion API, or any of the language bindings.\n>\n> ### Affected versions\n>\n> All releases up to and including 3.1.1.\n>\n> ### Patched version\n>\n> 3.2.0 (released 2026-05-26).\n>\n> ### Patch\n>\n> Fix commit: https://github.com/openbabel/openbabel/commit/e23a224b\n> Tracked in #2862.\n>\n> A minimized reproducer for this CVE is checked in at\n> `test/files/fuzz_regress/cve-2026-2704.cif` and is exercised on every\n> CI build under ASAN+UBSAN by the `fuzzregresstest` harness.\n>\n> ### Credit\n>\n> Reported by Vedant Madane (@VedantMadane).",
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  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "LOW",
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    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-06-30T18:46:12Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
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}