Categories
CVE-2026-33236 high CVSS 8.1

Path Traversal in Nltk (CVE-2026-33236)

Summary

Path traversal in Nltk (CVE-2026-33236). Data can be tampered with by attackers. Exploitable via subdir.

Original description

The description as published by the source.

NLTK (Natural Language Toolkit) is a suite of open source Python modules, data sets, and tutorials supporting research and development in Natural Language Processing. In versions 3.9.3 and prior, the NLTK downloader does not validate the subdir and id attributes when processing remote XML index files. Attackers can control a remote XML index server to provide malicious values containing path traversal sequences (such as ../), which can lead to arbitrary directory creation, arbitrary file creation, and arbitrary file overwrite. Commit 89fe2ec2c6bae6e2e7a46dad65cc34231976ed8a patches the issue.

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD

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-2026-33236 has been found in Nltk.
Attackers can target a specific entry point like subdir over the network to misuse the product.
Data can be tampered with by attackers. CVSS score: 8.1/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Nltk CVE-2026-33236" on the vendor's site.

CVE-2026-33236 (Nltk) — CWE-22 / CVSS v3 8.1
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated
Attack surface: subdir
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.

❓ What is the problem

Path traversal (CWE-22) exists in Nltk. Attackers reach the vulnerable code path via subdir without authentication.

📍 Affected scope

Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Nltk. Attack surface: subdir.

🔥 Severity

Severity: High (CVSS 8.1/10). Data can be tampered with by attackers.

🔧 How to fix

Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.

🛡️ Workaround

Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.

🔍 Detection

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

  1. 1
    Identify 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。

  2. 2
    Post-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。

Fix status by distribution

Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE

References

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