cvedb.io
CVE-2026-54293
HIGH · CVSS 7.5
EPSS exploitation probability: 0%
Published 2026-06-22T19:17:20.983 · Last modified 2026-06-30T03:21:02.293

Summary

NLTK (Natural Language Toolkit) is a suite of open source Python modules, data sets, and tutorials supporting research and development in Natural Language Processing. Prior to 3.10.0-rc1, nltk.data.load() in NLTK is vulnerable to path traversal via URL-encoded path separators and traversal segments when using the nltk: URL scheme. The unsafe-path regex check is performed before url2pathname() decodes the %xx sequences (a classic decode-after-check / TOCTOU-style flaw), allowing an attacker to bypass the protection documented in NLTK's SECURITY.md and read arbitrary files from the filesystem. While literal traversal strings such as ../../../etc/passwd are correctly blocked, encoded variants such as %2fetc%2fpasswd, %2e%2e%2f..., and ..%2f..%2f slip past the regex and are subsequently decode

Affected products

nltk — nltk

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References

This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Informational only; not professional security advice.