Arbitrary File Read via Absolute Path Input in nltk.util.filestring()

Summary

CVE	CVE-2026-0846
State	PUBLISHED
Assigner	@huntr_ai
Source Priority	CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published	2026-03-09 20:16:05 UTC
Updated	2026-06-30 03:17:03 UTC
Description	A vulnerability in the `filestring()` function of the `nltk.util` module in nltk version 3.9.2 allows arbitrary file read due to improper validation of input paths. The function directly opens files specified by user input without sanitization, enabling attackers to access sensitive system files by providing absolute paths or traversal paths. This vulnerability can be exploited locally or remotely, particularly in scenarios where the function is used in web APIs or other interfaces that accept user-supplied input.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 7.5 HIGH from [email protected]

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

EPSS: 0.004280000 probability, percentile 0.343800000 (date 2026-07-02)

Problem Types: CWE-36 | CWE-22 | CWE-36 CWE-36 Absolute Path Traversal | CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Version	Source	Type	Score	Severity	Vector
3.1	[email protected]	Primary	7.5	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`
3.1	ADP	CVSS	7.5	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`
3.1	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	Secondary	7.5	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`
3.0	[email protected]	Secondary	8.6	HIGH	`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L`
3.0	CNA	DECLARED	8.6	HIGH	`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L`

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

None

Availability

None

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CVSS v3.0 Breakdown

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

Low

Availability

Low

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L

NVD Known Affected Configurations (CPE 2.3)

Type	Vendor	Product	Version	Update	Edition	Language
Application	Nltk	Nltk	3.9.2	All	All	All

Vendor Declared Affected Products

Source	Vendor	Product	Version	Platforms
CNA	Nltk	Nltk/nltk	affected unspecified latest custom	Not specified
ADP	Red Hat	Red Hat OpenShift AI 2.25	Not specified	Not specified
ADP	Red Hat	Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.3	Not specified	Not specified
ADP	Red Hat	Lightspeed Core	Not specified	Not specified
ADP	Red Hat	OpenShift Lightspeed	Not specified	Not specified
ADP	Red Hat	Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2	Not specified	Not specified
ADP	Red Hat	Red Hat OpenShift AI RHOAI	Not specified	Not specified

References

Reference	Source	Link	Tags
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	bugzilla.redhat.com
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-0846	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	access.redhat.com
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10184	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	access.redhat.com
huntr.com/bounties/007b84f8-418e-4300-99d0-bf504c2f97eb	134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0	huntr.com	Exploit, Vendor Advisory
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19712	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	access.redhat.com
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-0846.json	0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c	security.access.redhat.com
CVE Program record	CVE.ORG	www.cve.org	canonical
NVD vulnerability detail	NVD	nvd.nist.gov	canonical, analysis

No vendor comments have been submitted for this CVE.

Additional Advisory Data

Source	Time	Event
ADP	2026-03-09T20:01:29.643Z	Reported to Red Hat.
ADP	2026-03-09T19:19:09.464Z	Made public.

Solutions

ADP: RHSA-2026:10184: Red Hat OpenShift AI 2.25

ADP: RHSA-2026:19712: Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.3

There are currently no legacy QID mappings associated with this CVE.