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Vulnerability record · CVE-2026-78680 · published 25 August 2026

CVE-2026-78680: Untrusted search path vulnerability

NLTK versions before 3.10.3 fail to use validated absolute paths when invoking the Graphviz dot binary in dependencygraph.dot2img and AlignedSent._repr_svg_, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code by placing a malicious dot binary in the search path or current working directory. Attackers can exploit bare-name binary resolution on Windows via the current working directory or on Unix-like systems via relative PATH entries to execute their binary instead of the legitimate Graphviz tool.

8.5 CVSS 4.0 High EPSS 0.18% · top 93.5% CWE-426 · Untrusted search path Awaiting Analysis
8.5CVSS 4.0 base score
0.18%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
0Affected product versions listed by NVD
3References
23 Sep 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

NLTK versions before 3.10.3 fail to use validated absolute paths when invoking the Graphviz dot binary in dependencygraph.dot2img and AlignedSent._repr_svg_, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code by placing a malicious dot binary in the search path or current working directory. Attackers can exploit bare-name binary resolution on Windows via the current working directory or on Unix-like systems via relative PATH entries to execute their binary instead of the legitimate Graphviz tool.

CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-6hwm-xvph-95vm
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nltk-before-arbitrary-code-execution-via-graphviz-dot-binary
https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-6hwm-xvph-95vm

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2026-78680), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.