Description
NLTK versions before 3.10.3 contain a path sandbox bypass vulnerability in corpus-reader constructors that allows attackers to read files outside the intended data root. Attackers can supply arbitrary corpus root paths to LinThesaurusCorpusReader and PanLexLiteCorpusReader constructors to access filesystem content and SQLite databases outside the pathsec sandbox boundary.
Affected products
nltk: nltk
References3
- github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-3gq4-3j92-5w49 ExploitVendor Advisory
- github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-3gq4-3j92-5w49 ExploitVendor Advisory
- www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nltk-path-traversal-via-corpus-rea… Third Party Advisory
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
8.2
HIGH
Score source: CNA
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N - CVSS 4.0
-
8.8
HIGH
Score source: CNA
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - EPSS — exploit probability
- 0% percentile: 33 · as of 9 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-73
Could this be exploited in your environment?
A patch closes the known hole. A penetration test shows what an attacker can still reach — with proof.