CVE-2025-14009
8.8 · HIGHOverview
CVE-2025-14009 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting nltk nltk. 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 and patches from nltk. Update nltk to the latest patched version. 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.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| nltk | nltk | >= 0, < 3.9.3 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2025-14009?
CVE-2025-14009 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting nltk nltk. 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 and patches from nltk. Update nltk to the latest patched version. 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's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2025-14009 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
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