CVE-2025-14009: Zip Slip Vulnerability in nltk/nltk Leading to Remote Code Execution

Published Feb 18, 2026
·
Updated

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

Affected Software

4 affected components
nltk/nltk<
pip/nltk<=3.9.2
nltk nltk<3.9.3
IBM watsonx.data intelligence<=5.2.0, 5.2.1, 5.3.0, 5.3.1

Event History

Feb 18, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:45 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:45 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:24 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:24 PM
Affected Software
Advisory Published
via GitHub·06:30 PM
Data Sourced
via GitHub·06:30 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·07:03 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Apr 27, 2026
Data Sourced
via IBM·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-14009?

CVE-2025-14009 is rated as a critical severity vulnerability.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-14009?

To fix CVE-2025-14009, update the NLTK package to the latest version where the vulnerability is patched.

3

What component is affected by CVE-2025-14009?

CVE-2025-14009 affects the downloader component of the NLTK library.

4

What type of attack does CVE-2025-14009 enable?

CVE-2025-14009 enables attackers to exploit the vulnerability by crafting malicious zip packages.

5

What functions are involved in the vulnerability CVE-2025-14009?

The vulnerability CVE-2025-14009 involves the _unzip_iter function in nltk/downloader.py.

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