CVE-2026-33231 HIGH

CVE-2026-33231: NLTK has unauthenticated remote shutdown in nltk.app.wordnet_app

Vendor Nltk
Product nltk
Weakness CWE-306 · Missing auth
Published March 20, 2026
Last update June 30, 2026
View on NVD All CVEs

CVSS base score

7.5/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required None
User interaction None
Confidentiality None
Integrity None

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

What the vulnerability does

01Description

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.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

March 20, 2026 CVE published
June 30, 2026 Record updated