CVE-2026-81722 (GCVE-0-2026-81722)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5
Published
2026-08-27 14:51
Modified
2026-08-27 17:49
Severity ?
8.7 (High) - CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.5 (High) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5 (High) - CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
VLAI Severity ?
EPSS score ?
CWE
- CWE-407 - Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity
Summary
nltk PorterStemmer in versions <= 3.10.2 (fixed in 3.10.3) contains an inefficient-algorithmic-complexity denial of service in PorterStemmer.stem(). The _is_consonant() helper walks backward over the entire run of trailing 'y' characters on every call, and _measure() invokes it for each stem position, causing O(n^2) behavior. A single ~20-50 KB untrusted token consisting of a long run of the letter 'y' followed by a matching suffix (e.g., 'ness') can pin a CPU core for seconds to minutes, causing availability impact.
References
| URL | Tags | |
|---|---|---|
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2026-81722",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "poc"
},
{
"Automatable": "yes"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-08-27T17:49:47.104860Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-08-27T17:49:54.623Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"references": [
{
"tags": [
"exploit"
],
"url": "https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-ww6m-cw3f-q94g"
}
],
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"packageURL": "pkg:pypi/nltk",
"product": "nltk",
"vendor": "nltk",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "3.10.3",
"status": "affected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "3.10.3",
"versionType": "semver"
}
]
}
],
"cpeApplicability": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"cpeMatch": [
{
"criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:nltk:nltk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
"versionEndExcluding": "3.10.3",
"vulnerable": true
}
],
"negate": false,
"operator": "OR"
}
]
}
],
"datePublic": "2026-08-12T00:00:00.000Z",
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "nltk PorterStemmer in versions \u003c= 3.10.2 (fixed in 3.10.3) contains an inefficient-algorithmic-complexity denial of service in PorterStemmer.stem(). The _is_consonant() helper walks backward over the entire run of trailing \u0027y\u0027 characters on every call, and _measure() invokes it for each stem position, causing O(n^2) behavior. A single ~20-50 KB untrusted token consisting of a long run of the letter \u0027y\u0027 followed by a matching suffix (e.g., \u0027ness\u0027) can pin a CPU core for seconds to minutes, causing availability impact."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV4_0": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "NONE",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"baseScore": 8.7,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
},
"format": "CVSS"
},
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 7.5,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"integrityImpact": "NONE",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"format": "CVSS"
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-407",
"description": "Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-08-27T14:51:15.857Z",
"orgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
"shortName": "VulnCheck"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-ww6m-cw3f-q94g)",
"tags": [
"vendor-advisory"
],
"url": "https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-ww6m-cw3f-q94g"
},
{
"name": "VulnCheck Advisory: nltk PorterStemmer before 3.10.3 Quadratic-time DoS",
"tags": [
"third-party-advisory"
],
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nltk-porterstemmer-before-3.10.3-quadratic-time-dos"
}
],
"title": "nltk PorterStemmer before 3.10.3 Quadratic-time DoS",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "vulncheck-endgame"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10",
"assignerShortName": "VulnCheck",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-81722",
"datePublished": "2026-08-27T14:51:15.857Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-08-27T11:13:14.064Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-08-27T17:49:54.623Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"vulnrichment": {
"containers": "{\"cna\": {\"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10\", \"shortName\": \"VulnCheck\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-08-27T14:51:15.857Z\"}, \"datePublic\": \"2026-08-12T00:00:00.000Z\", \"title\": \"nltk PorterStemmer before 3.10.3 Quadratic-time DoS\", \"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"value\": \"nltk PorterStemmer in versions \u003c= 3.10.2 (fixed in 3.10.3) contains an inefficient-algorithmic-complexity denial of service in PorterStemmer.stem(). The _is_consonant() helper walks backward over the entire run of trailing \u0027y\u0027 characters on every call, and _measure() invokes it for each stem position, causing O(n^2) behavior. A single ~20-50 KB untrusted token consisting of a long run of the letter \u0027y\u0027 followed by a matching suffix (e.g., \u0027ness\u0027) can pin a CPU core for seconds to minutes, causing availability impact.\"}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"description\": \"Inefficient Algorithmic Complexity\", \"cweId\": \"CWE-407\", \"type\": \"CWE\"}]}], \"affected\": [{\"vendor\": \"nltk\", \"product\": \"nltk\", \"defaultStatus\": \"unaffected\", \"packageURL\": \"pkg:pypi/nltk\", \"versions\": [{\"version\": \"0\", \"status\": \"affected\", \"versionType\": \"semver\", \"lessThan\": \"3.10.3\"}, {\"version\": \"3.10.3\", \"status\": \"unaffected\", \"versionType\": \"semver\"}]}], \"cpeApplicability\": [{\"nodes\": [{\"operator\": \"OR\", \"negate\": false, \"cpeMatch\": [{\"vulnerable\": true, \"criteria\": \"cpe:2.3:a:nltk:nltk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*\", \"versionEndExcluding\": \"3.10.3\"}]}]}], \"metrics\": [{\"cvssV4_0\": {\"Automatable\": \"NOT_DEFINED\", \"Recovery\": \"NOT_DEFINED\", \"Safety\": \"NOT_DEFINED\", \"attackComplexity\": \"LOW\", \"attackRequirements\": \"NONE\", \"attackVector\": \"NETWORK\", \"baseScore\": 8.7, \"baseSeverity\": \"HIGH\", \"exploitMaturity\": \"NOT_DEFINED\", \"privilegesRequired\": \"NONE\", \"providerUrgency\": \"NOT_DEFINED\", \"subAvailabilityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"subConfidentialityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"subIntegrityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"userInteraction\": \"NONE\", \"valueDensity\": \"NOT_DEFINED\", \"vectorString\": \"CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N\", \"version\": \"4.0\", \"vulnAvailabilityImpact\": \"HIGH\", \"vulnConfidentialityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"vulnIntegrityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"vulnerabilityResponseEffort\": \"NOT_DEFINED\"}, \"format\": \"CVSS\"}, {\"cvssV3_1\": {\"attackComplexity\": \"LOW\", \"attackVector\": \"NETWORK\", \"availabilityImpact\": \"HIGH\", \"baseScore\": 7.5, \"baseSeverity\": \"HIGH\", \"confidentialityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"integrityImpact\": \"NONE\", \"privilegesRequired\": \"NONE\", \"scope\": \"UNCHANGED\", \"userInteraction\": \"NONE\", \"vectorString\": \"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H\", \"version\": \"3.1\"}, \"format\": \"CVSS\"}], \"references\": [{\"url\": \"https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-ww6m-cw3f-q94g\", \"tags\": [\"vendor-advisory\"], \"name\": \"GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-ww6m-cw3f-q94g)\"}, {\"name\": \"VulnCheck Advisory: nltk PorterStemmer before 3.10.3 Quadratic-time DoS\", \"tags\": [\"third-party-advisory\"], \"url\": \"https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nltk-porterstemmer-before-3.10.3-quadratic-time-dos\"}], \"x_generator\": {\"engine\": \"vulncheck-endgame\"}}, \"adp\": [{\"title\": \"CISA ADP Vulnrichment\", \"metrics\": [{\"other\": {\"type\": \"ssvc\", \"content\": {\"id\": \"CVE-2026-81722\", \"role\": \"CISA Coordinator\", \"options\": [{\"Exploitation\": \"poc\"}, {\"Automatable\": \"yes\"}, {\"Technical Impact\": \"partial\"}], \"version\": \"2.0.3\", \"timestamp\": \"2026-08-27T17:49:47.104860Z\"}}}], \"references\": [{\"url\": \"https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-ww6m-cw3f-q94g\", \"tags\": [\"exploit\"]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\", \"shortName\": \"CISA-ADP\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-08-27T17:49:23.759Z\"}}]}",
"cveMetadata": "{\"cveId\": \"CVE-2026-81722\", \"assignerOrgId\": \"83251b91-4cc7-4094-a5c7-464a1b83ea10\", \"state\": \"PUBLISHED\", \"assignerShortName\": \"VulnCheck\", \"dateReserved\": \"2026-08-27T11:13:14.064Z\", \"datePublished\": \"2026-08-27T14:51:15.857Z\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-08-27T17:49:54.623Z\"}",
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or seen somewhere by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability is confirmed from an analyst perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: This vulnerability was exploited and seen by the user reporting the sighting.
- Patched: This vulnerability was successfully patched by the user reporting the sighting.
- Not exploited: This vulnerability was not exploited or seen by the user reporting the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expresses doubt about the veracity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: This vulnerability was not successfully patched by the user reporting the sighting.
Loading…
Loading…