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CVE Record

CVE-2026-2704: Open Babel CIF File transform3d.cpp DescribeAsString out-of-bounds

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. The identifier of the patch is e23a224b8fd9d7c2a7cde9ef4ec6afb4c05aa08a. It is suggested to install a patch to address this issue. The project was informed of the problem early through an issue report but has not responded yet.

MediumCVSS 5.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Open Babel has a medium-severity flaw in its CIF file handling. A malicious CIF file could trigger an out-of-bounds read when processed, potentially causing application instability or denial of service. Public exploit material is referenced, but the provided sources do not show confirmed active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a timely but not emergency remediation item. Prioritize research, cheminformatics, and data-processing environments that ingest external CIF files. The main business risk is service disruption in workflows that automatically process scientific files.

Technical view

CVE-2026-2704 affects Open Babel 3.1.0 and 3.1.1, in OpenBabel::transform3d::DescribeAsString within src/math/transform3d.cpp for the CIF File Handler. The issue is an out-of-bounds read, mapped to CWE-119 and CWE-125. CVSS 4.0 score is 5.3 with network attack vector and required user interaction.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely where Open Babel processes CIF files from users, partners, public repositories, or automated scientific data pipelines. Systems that only use Open Babel for trusted local files have lower exposure, but should still track remediation.

Exploitation context

The source bundle states exploit material has been publicly disclosed and may be used. KEV is false, and no cited source confirms active exploitation. CVSS indicates remote initiation is possible, but user interaction is required.

Researcher notes

Evidence points to an out-of-bounds read in CIF handling with public repro material and a referenced patch commit. Maintainer response status appears incomplete in the source bundle, so package-level fixed versions are not confirmed here. Avoid assuming active exploitation without KEV or other cited confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify Open Babel deployments and versions, especially 3.1.0 and 3.1.1.
  • Prioritize systems processing externally supplied CIF files.
  • Review the referenced pull request and patch commit e23a224b8fd9d7c2a7cde9ef4ec6afb4c05aa08a.
  • Apply vendor-approved updates or patches when available.
  • Restrict or quarantine untrusted CIF file processing until remediation is confirmed.
  • Monitor the Open Babel issue and pull request for maintainer guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Check installed Open Babel versions against affected 3.1.0 and 3.1.1.
  • Inventory applications and pipelines invoking Open Babel on CIF files.
  • Confirm whether the referenced patch is present in deployed source or packages.
  • Review logs for crashes during CIF file parsing or conversion.
  • Track CVE, VulDB, GitHub issue, and pull request status changes.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-119: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-2704 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.3 (4.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
8Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.3CVSS 4.0MediumCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P——Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 4.0 score

5.3Medium
CVSS 4.0 vector shape for CVE-2026-2704Attack VectorAttack ComplexityAttack RequirementsPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionVS ConfidentialityVS IntegrityVS AvailabilitySS ConfidentialitySS IntegritySS Availability

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Attack Requirements
NonePresent
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NonePassiveActive
VS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
VS Integrity
HighLowNone
VS Availability
HighLowNone
SS Confidentiality
HighLowNone
SS Integrity
HighLowNone
SS Availability
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aOpen Babel3.1.0, 3.1.1Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-119CWE-125

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.