File disclosure via unvalidated corpus-reader roots
Published Aug 25, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026
Path sandbox bypass in NLTK before 3.10.3 allows attackers to read files and SQLite databases via corpus-reader root paths. CorpusReader converts unvalidated string roots into FileSystemPathPointer objects, while affected readers pass derived paths directly to open() or sqlite3.connect() without pathsec validation. Exploitation requires a consumer call site to accept an attacker-controlled root while pathsec enforcement is enabled, exposing process-readable local data.
Summary
What happened
Path sandbox bypass in NLTK before 3.10.3 allows attackers to read files and SQLite databases via corpus-reader root paths. CorpusReader converts unvalidated string roots into FileSystemPathPointer objects, while affected readers pass derived paths directly to open() or sqlite3.connect() without pathsec validation. Exploitation requires a consumer call site to accept an attacker-controlled root while pathsec enforcement is enabled, exposing process-readable local data.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-79674
- Published
- Aug 25, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 25, 2026
- Vendor
- NLTK Project
- Product
- NLTK
- Classifications
- CWE-73, T1005
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 25, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <3.10.3
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- Corpus Reader Sandbox Bypass proof of conceptfunctional · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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