Path Traversal in NLTK (CVE-2026-109956)
Summary
Path traversal in NLTK (CVE-2026-109956). Data can be tampered with by attackers.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
NLTK through 3.10.3 contains a path traversal vulnerability in WekaClassifier that allows attackers to bypass nltk.pathsec containment by supplying unvalidated model paths. Attackers controlling the model_filename or model argument can make the weka JVM write files via -d or probe files via -l outside allowed data roots.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-109956 has been found in NLTK.
Data can be tampered with by attackers. CVSS score: 7.0/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "NLTK CVE-2026-109956" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-109956 (NLTK) — CWE-22 / CVSS v3 7.0
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Path traversal (CWE-22) exists in NLTK.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of NLTK.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.0/10). Data can be tampered with by attackers.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'NLTK' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'NLTK' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
NLTKを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
References
- REDHAT Red Hat
- web disclosure@vulncheck.com
- web disclosure@vulncheck.com
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web github.com