CVE-2026-2705 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability identified in Open Babel, an open-source chemical toolbox widely used for molecular data conversion and analysis. The vulnerability resides in the OBAtom::SetFormalCharge function located in the include/openbabel/atom.h file, specifically within the MOL2 file handler component. When processing specially crafted MOL2 files, the function improperly accesses memory outside the bounds of allocated buffers, leading to an out-of-bounds read condition. This flaw can be exploited remotely by an attacker who convinces a user or system to open or process a malicious MOL2 file, potentially causing the application to crash or leak sensitive memory contents. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or authentication but does require user interaction to trigger. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.3 (medium severity), reflecting the network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction needed. Although the vulnerability does not directly enable code execution or privilege escalation, the out-of-bounds read could be leveraged in complex attack chains or to gather sensitive information from memory. The vulnerability was responsibly disclosed early, but the Open Babel project has not yet issued a patch or response. Public exploit code is available, increasing the risk of exploitation in the wild. Open Babel is commonly used in chemical, pharmaceutical, and academic research environments for molecular data processing, making these sectors potential targets.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-2705 primarily involves potential denial-of-service conditions due to application crashes and possible information disclosure from out-of-bounds memory reads. Organizations relying on Open Babel for chemical data processing, molecular modeling, or research may experience operational disruptions if malicious MOL2 files are processed. Sensitive intellectual property or research data could be exposed if memory contents are leaked. Although the vulnerability does not directly allow remote code execution, the availability of public exploit code increases the risk of targeted attacks, especially in research institutions and pharmaceutical companies where chemical data integrity and confidentiality are critical. Disruptions could delay research projects, affect data accuracy, and potentially expose proprietary information. The lack of an official patch means organizations must rely on mitigations and monitoring until a fix is released. The threat is more pronounced in environments where untrusted or external MOL2 files are routinely imported or shared.

1. Avoid opening or processing MOL2 files from untrusted or unknown sources until a patch is available. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for MOL2 files before processing with Open Babel. 3. Employ application-level sandboxing or containerization to isolate Open Babel processes and limit the impact of potential crashes or memory leaks. 4. Monitor logs and network activity for unusual behavior related to Open Babel usage, such as unexpected file imports or crashes. 5. Educate users and researchers about the risks of opening unverified chemical data files and encourage cautious handling. 6. Track the Open Babel project for updates and apply patches promptly once released. 7. Consider alternative tools or workflows that do not rely on vulnerable Open Babel versions for critical processing until the vulnerability is resolved. 8. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts.