Go to homepageCyberStrike

Menu

Star on GitHub · 3.2k
Sign inDownload

CVE-2025-14009

8.8 · HIGH

A critical vulnerability exists in the NLTK downloader component of nltk/nltk, affecting all versions.

Published Feb 18, 2026CWE-94EPSS 1.04%

Overview

CVE-2025-14009 is a high-severity vulnerability. It was published on February 18, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.

Technical description

A critical vulnerability exists in the NLTK downloader component of nltk/nltk, affecting all versions. The _unzip_iter function in nltk/downloader.py uses zipfile.extractall() without performing path validation or security checks. This allows attackers to craft malicious zip packages that, when downloaded and extracted by NLTK, can execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability arises because NLTK assumes all downloaded packages are trusted and extracts them without validation. If a malicious package contains Python files, such as __init__.py, these files are executed automatically upon import, leading to remote code execution. This issue can result in full system compromise, including file system access, network access, and potential persistence mechanisms.

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

References

Refhuntr.com/bounties/49ecbc02-054e-4470-b2e0-b267936cc4e4Refaccess.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10184Refaccess.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-14009Refbugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2440724Refhuntr.com/bounties/49ecbc02-054e-4470-b2e0-b267936cc4e4Refsecurity.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2025/cve-2025-14009.json

How CyberStrike helps

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2025-14009?

CVE-2025-14009 is a high-severity vulnerability. It was published on February 18, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2025-14009?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2025-14009?

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2025-14009?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2025-14009 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

Related HIGH CVEs from 2025

View all
Browse by year2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999