CVE-2026-62388Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Security control bypass via warning-only enforcement

Published Aug 22, 2026 · Updated Aug 22, 2026

Security control bypass in NLTK before 3.10.0 allows remote attackers to read local files through warning-only pathsec checks. The pathsec.py module initializes ENFORCE as false, so its validation functions emit RuntimeWarning messages and allow rejected file, network, ZIP, and pickle operations to continue. Exposure requires a consuming application to pass untrusted input into a guarded operation, and the resulting access remains limited by the Python process's permissions.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Security control bypass in NLTK before 3.10.0 allows remote attackers to read local files through warning-only pathsec checks. The pathsec.py module initializes ENFORCE as false, so its validation functions emit RuntimeWarning messages and allow rejected file, network, ZIP, and pickle operations to continue. Exposure requires a consuming application to pass untrusted input into a guarded operation, and the resulting access remains limited by the Python process's permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-62388
Published
Aug 22, 2026
Updated
Aug 22, 2026
Vendor
NLTK Project
Product
NLTK
Classifications
CWE-1188, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 22, 2026Record 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 <3.10.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NLTK Project · NLTKversion=0 <3.10.0

Published CVSS scores

7.5VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
8.7VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.5GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1188Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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