CVE-2026-78683
Published:August 25, 2026
Updated:August 25, 2026
NLTK before 3.10.0 (affected versions <=3.9.4) contains an unsafe pickle deserialization vulnerability in the TransitionParser.parse() method (nltk/parse/transitionparser.py). The method calls pickle_load() with the default restricted=False, routing deserialization through WarningUnpickler, which does not override find_class() and therefore permits arbitrary class resolution. When an application loads an attacker-crafted model file, embedded pickle gadget chains execute arbitrary Python code with the privileges of the user running the application. NLTK provides a RestrictedUnpickler for safe deserialization, but it is not used by production code paths. Fixed in 3.10.0.
Affected Packages
nltk (CONDA):
Affected version(s) >=3.0.2 <3.10.0Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.10.0https://github.com/nltk/nltk.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) =v3.9.2 <v3.10.0Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v3.10.0nltk (PYTHON):
Affected version(s) >=3.0.2 <3.10.0Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 3.10.0Related Resources (4)
Do you need more information?
Contact UsCVSS v4
Base Score:
9.4
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
PASSIVE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
HIGH
Vulnerable System Integrity
HIGH
Vulnerable System Availability
HIGH
Subsequent System Confidentiality
HIGH
Subsequent System Integrity
HIGH
Subsequent System Availability
HIGH
CVSS v3
Base Score:
9.6
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Weakness Type (CWE)
Deserialization of Untrusted Data
EPSS
Base Score:
0.28