CVE-2024-39705Network attack vector

Remote code execution via pickled data packages

Published Jun 27, 2024 · Updated Sep 15, 2024

Unsafe deserialization in NLTK 3.8.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code through downloaded data packages. The data package loader unpickles models such as averaged_perceptron_tagger and punkt without validating that their serialized Python objects are safe. Exploitation requires the integrated downloader to retrieve an attacker-controlled package and application code to invoke functionality that unpickles it.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe deserialization in NLTK 3.8.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code through downloaded data packages. The data package loader unpickles models such as averaged_perceptron_tagger and punkt without validating that their serialized Python objects are safe. Exploitation requires the integrated downloader to retrieve an attacker-controlled package and application code to invoke functionality that unpickles it.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-39705
Published
Jun 27, 2024
Updated
Sep 15, 2024
Vendor
NLTK Project
Product
NLTK
Classifications
CWE-502, T1195.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 27, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 15, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=3.8.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NLTK Project · NLTKversion=0 <=3.8.1

Published CVSS scores

7.5GitHubCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
T1195.002Compromise Software Supply Chain

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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