Medium severity · published Aug 3, 2026
CVE-2026-12259
Improper Input Validation in nltk/nltk
6.5
CVSS
0.1%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
In nltk version 3.9.4, the `nltk.downloader.Downloader._download_package()` function writes downloaded package bytes to disk and may extract them before enforcing SHA-256 or MD5 checksum validation. This allows an attacker to tamper with the package response body for `info.url` through a compromised mirror, malicious proxy, or other source-substitution condition, leading to the installation of attacker-controlled package bytes. The vulnerability can result in malicious corpus or model content being trusted by downstream users or applications.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
None
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.1% · higher than 1% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
NL
nltk/nltk · nltk
through latest · source: vendor
NL
Nltk · Nltk
3.9.4 · source: NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12259
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-12259
Permissions Required
https://huntr.com/bounties/659ccf6d-12d4-4d4a-84c0-078633c35a5d
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