### Summary A memory-safety vulnerability in Open Babel's CDXML file format parser caused a NULL pointer dereference when reading a crafted input file. ### Details The flaw was in `OBAtom::GetExplicitValence` as called from the CDXML parser. A malformed fragment caused the parser to invoke the method on a NULL atom pointer. ### 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 CDXML file with the `obabel` tool, the `OBConversion` API, or any of the language bindings (Python, Ruby, Java, R, Perl, C#, PHP). ### 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 under `test/files/fuzz_regress/` and is exercised on every CI build under ASAN+UBSAN by the `fuzzregresstest` harness. ### Credit Reported by Vedant Madane (@VedantMadane) via VulDB.
### Summary A memory-safety vulnerability in Open Babel's CDXML file format parser caused a NULL pointer dereference when reading a crafted input file. ### Details The flaw was in `OBAtom::GetExplicitValence` as called from the CDXML parser. A malformed fragment caused the parser to invoke the method on a NULL atom pointer. ### 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 CDXML file with the `obabel` tool, the `OBConversion` API, or any of the language bindings (Python, Ruby, Java, R, Perl, C#, PHP). ### 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 under `test/files/fuzz_regress/` and is exercised on every CI build under ASAN+UBSAN by the `fuzzregresstest` harness. ### Credit Reported by Vedant Madane (@VedantMadane) via VulDB.
Update openbabel to 3.2.0 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.
Local check
hol-guard supply-chain scanOpen Babel has a NULL pointer dereference in CDXML OBAtom::GetExplicitValence affects openbabel (pip). Severity is low. ### Summary A memory-safety vulnerability in Open Babel's CDXML file format parser caused a NULL pointer dereference when reading a crafted input file. ### Details The flaw was in `OBAtom::GetExplicitValence` as called from the CDXML parser. A malformed fragment caused the parser to invoke the method on a NULL atom pointer. ### 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 CDXML file with the `obabel` tool, the `OBConversion` API, or any of the language bindings (Python, Ruby, Java, R, Perl, C#, PHP). ### 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 under `test/files/fuzz_regress/` and is exercised on every CI build under ASAN+UBSAN by the `fuzzregresstest` harness. ### Credit Reported by Vedant Madane (@VedantMadane) via VulDB.
AI coding agents often install or upgrade packages automatically in pip. A low vulnerability in a dependency can be pulled into a project through a normal install or update without a human reviewing the change, expanding the blast radius from a single package to every agent workspace that depends on it.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| openbabelpip | <3.2.0 | 3.2.0 |
Fixed versions are reported by the source feed; confirm compatibility before updating.
Reported by GitHub Security Advisories (ghsa).
HOL Guard can help your team review package activity against supported protection paths.
Explore HOL GuardUpdate openbabel to 3.2.0 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.
Local check
hol-guard supply-chain scanOpen Babel has a NULL pointer dereference in CDXML OBAtom::GetExplicitValence affects openbabel (pip). Severity is low. ### Summary A memory-safety vulnerability in Open Babel's CDXML file format parser caused a NULL pointer dereference when reading a crafted input file. ### Details The flaw was in `OBAtom::GetExplicitValence` as called from the CDXML parser. A malformed fragment caused the parser to invoke the method on a NULL atom pointer. ### 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 CDXML file with the `obabel` tool, the `OBConversion` API, or any of the language bindings (Python, Ruby, Java, R, Perl, C#, PHP). ### 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 under `test/files/fuzz_regress/` and is exercised on every CI build under ASAN+UBSAN by the `fuzzregresstest` harness. ### Credit Reported by Vedant Madane (@VedantMadane) via VulDB.
AI coding agents often install or upgrade packages automatically in pip. A low vulnerability in a dependency can be pulled into a project through a normal install or update without a human reviewing the change, expanding the blast radius from a single package to every agent workspace that depends on it.
| Package | Affected range | Fixed version |
|---|---|---|
| openbabelpip | <3.2.0 | 3.2.0 |
Fixed versions are reported by the source feed; confirm compatibility before updating.
Reported by GitHub Security Advisories (ghsa).
HOL Guard can help your team review package activity against supported protection paths.
Explore HOL Guard