CVE-2026-78682: NLTK before 3.10.3 contains a server-side request forgery vulnerability in nltk.pathsec.urlopen (and callers n
CVE-2026-78682 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting nltk. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
NLTK before 3.10.3 contains a server-side request forgery vulnerability in nltk.pathsec.urlopen (and callers nltk.data.load, nltk.downloader.Downloader.index/download) when an HTTP proxy is configured. pathsec.urlopen validates the requested hostname locally, but proxy-handler inheritance disables the safe HTTP/HTTPS handlers so the actual fetch is performed by the proxy against a destination that is never re-validated. An attacker can supply a v
Why this priority
- High severity
- Public exploit reference
- Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 7.5 (High) |
| Attack vector | Network (remote) |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges needed | None |
| User interaction | None |
| EPSS exploit chance | 0.4% (top 62%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-918 |
| Published | 2026-08-25 |
| Last modified | 2026-10-12 |
Last updated 2026-10-12 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated Record last modified
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Quick answers
How do I fix CVE-2026-78682?
nltk: upgrade to 3.10.3. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2026-78682 being exploited?
CVE-2026-78682 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.
What does CVE-2026-78682 affect?
CVE-2026-78682 affects nltk. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). NLTK before 3.10.3 contains a server-side request forgery vulnerability in nltk.pathsec.urlopen (and callers nltk.data.load, nltk.downloader.Downloader.index/download) when an HTTP proxy is configured. pathsec.urlopen validates the requeste
How urgent is CVE-2026-78682?
Priority 46/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
Related CVEs
- CVE-2026-12252 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE In nltk/nltk versions 3.9.3 and earlier, five Stanford interface classes (StanfordPOSTagger, StanfordNERTagger
- CVE-2026-12259 MEDIUM 6.5 DOWNGRADE In nltk version 3.9.4, the `nltk.downloader.Downloader._download_package()` function writes downloaded package
- CVE-2026-12261 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE A vulnerability in `nltk.downloader` in nltk/nltk versions <= 3.9.4 allows for cross-package resource and mode
- CVE-2026-12372 LOW 3.7 DOWNGRADE A Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability exists in nltk/nltk versions 3.9.4 and the current develop
- CVE-2026-71513 HIGH 8.8 UPGRADE NLTK before 3.10.3 contains a remote code execution vulnerability in AllowlistUnpickler that validates only th