Arbitrary File Read via Absolute Path Input in nltk.util.filestring() (nltk nltk/nltk)
At a glance
- Source
- NVD
- EPSS
- EPSS 0.55 % · percentile 46 ()
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Updated
- Assigner
- @huntr_ai
- NVD status
- Modified
Description
A vulnerability in the `filestring()` function of the `nltk.util` module in nltk version 3.9.2 allows arbitrary file read due to improper validation of input paths. The function directly opens files specified by user input without sanitization, enabling attackers to access sensitive system files by providing absolute paths or traversal paths. This vulnerability can be exploited locally or remotely, particularly in scenarios where the function is used in web APIs or other interfaces that accept user-supplied input.
Weaknesses (CWE)
- CWE-36 — Absolute Path Traversal
- CWE-22 — Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
References
- https://huntr.com/bounties/007b84f8-418e-4300-99d0-bf504c2f97eb
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-0846
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2445826
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-0846.json
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10184
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19712
Scores
| Version | Score | Vector | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.0 | HIGH 8.6 | CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L | @huntr_ai |
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH 7.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N | redhat-SADP |
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH 7.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N | NVD · nvd@nist.gov (Primary) |
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH 7.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N | NVD · 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c (Secondary) |
| CVSS 3.0 | HIGH 8.6 | CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L | NVD · security@huntr.dev (Secondary) |
Advisories
- GHSA-h8wq-7xc4-p3qx — NLTK has Arbitrary File Read via Absolute Path Input in nltk.util.filestring()
- PYSEC-2026-97 — A vulnerability in the `filestring()` function of the `nltk.util` module in nltk version 3.9.2 allows arbitrary file read due to improper validation of input pa
European references
- ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-10350
- GCVE · GCVE-0-2026-0846
CERT-FR advisories
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-1378 — Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM · cert.ssi.gouv.fr
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-1206 — Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM · cert.ssi.gouv.fr
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-0667 — Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM · cert.ssi.gouv.fr
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-0556 — Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits VMware · cert.ssi.gouv.fr
Affected configurations (NVD CPE)
cpe:2.3:a:nltk:nltk:3.9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Affected products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| nltk · nltk/nltk | affected unspecified ≤ latest |
Sources
| Source | Licence |
|---|---|
| CVE List (CVEProject cvelistV5) | CVE Program Terms of Use |
| EPSS (FIRST.org) | FIRST — attribution requested |
| ENISA EUVD | ENISA — reproduction authorised, source acknowledged |
| CERT-FR (ANSSI) | Licence Ouverte / Etalab 2.0 |
| NVD (NIST) via fkie-cad/nvd-json-data-feeds | Public domain — this product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD |