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Response snapshot Nov 4, 2026, 04:16 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2026-0847

NLTK has a Path Traversal issue

A vulnerability in NLTK versions up to and including 3.9.2 allows arbitrary file read via path traversal in multiple CorpusReader classes, including WordListCorpusReader, TaggedCorpusReader, and BracketParseCorpusReader.

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
8.6 High (CVSS 3.0)
Chance of exploitation
Not estimated
Sources
1 source

What to do

GitHub lists first patched versions: nltk: 3.9.3. Confirm the affected range and upgrade guidance in the exact advisory.

Read GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-68j8-pq59-fqgm (opens a new tab)

What happened

A vulnerability in NLTK versions up to and including 3.9.2 allows arbitrary file read via path traversal in multiple CorpusReader classes, including WordListCorpusReader, TaggedCorpusReader, and BracketParseCorpusReader. These classes fail to properly sanitize or validate file paths, enabling attackers to traverse directories and access sensitive files on the server.

This issue is particularly critical in scenarios where user-controlled file inputs are processed, such as in machine learning APIs, chatbots, or NLP pipelines. Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive files, including system files, SSH private keys, and API tokens, and may potentially escalate to remote code execution when combined with other vulnerabilities.

Affected package ranges reported by GitHub: nltk: <= 3.9.2

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

8.6

Version 3.0As of

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

Not available

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-68j8-pq59-fqgm (opens a new tab)

    The public advisory supplies the description, affected package/version ranges, and any listed CVSS metric. GitHub review is not local review.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    GitHub public advisory API page (opens a new tab)

    The API page supplied GHSA-68j8-pq59-fqgm, its actual identifiers, source dates, and structured metrics.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, November 4). NLTK has a Path Traversal issue (CVE-2026-0847). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-0847

MLA

"NLTK has a Path Traversal issue (CVE-2026-0847)." KEVWire, 4 Nov. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-0847.

Chicago

KEVWire. "NLTK has a Path Traversal issue (CVE-2026-0847)." Last modified November 4, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-0847.

Evidence summary (plain text)

NLTK has a Path Traversal issue (Mar 4, 2026).
A vulnerability in NLTK versions up to and including 3.9.2 allows arbitrary file read via path traversal in multiple CorpusReader classes, including WordListCorpusReader, TaggedCorpusReader, and BracketParseCorpusReader. These classes fail to properly sanitize or validate file paths, enabling attackers to traverse directories and access sensitive files on the server. This issue is particularly critical in scenarios where user-controlled file inputs are processed, such as in machine learning APIs, chatbots, or NLP pipelines.
CVSS 8.6 (version 3.0; evidence as of Nov 4, 2026; https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-68j8-pq59-fqgm).
Sources:
GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-68j8-pq59-fqgm: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-68j8-pq59-fqgm
GitHub public advisory API page: https://api.github.com/advisories?type=reviewed&per_page=100&sort=updated&direction=desc
Record ID: CVE-2026-0847.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Nov 4, 2026, 04:15 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

Record JSON

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Record details

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