GHSA-j456-xh4h-cpf2 - NLTK: WekaClassifier passes an unvalidated caller-controlled model path to the weka JVM, bypassing nltk.pathsec containment
## Summary
`WekaClassifier` in NLTK passes a caller-controlled model file path to the weka Java VM without any `nltk.pathsec` validation. `WekaClassifier.train` puts the caller's `model_filename` verbatim into the weka argv `["-d", model_filename, ...]` (weka *writes* the trained model there), and `WekaClassifier._classify_many` puts `self._model` into `["-l", self._model, ...]` (weka *reads* it). Under `nltk.pathsec.ENFORCE=True` (the default on current HEAD), NLTK's stated invariant โ established by advisory CVE-2026-81726 / GHSA-8mgp-746c-j5xp โ is that caller-controlled model-artifact paths must be bounded to the allowed NLTK data roots before any native tool opens them. `WekaClassifier` is the one `java()`-based tool wrapper that skips this entirely, giving an untrusted workflow arbitrary-location file **write** (`-d`) and an arbitrary file **read/parse oracle** (`-l`), defeating pathsec containment.
This is a standalone, unfixed variant of the same class as CVE-2026-81726, on a code path the CVE-2026-81726 fix never touched. That advisory enumerates 6 functions (`TransitionParser.train`, `TransitionParser.parse`, `AveragedPerceptron.save`, `AveragedPerceptron.load`, `PerceptronTagger.save_to_json`, `save_maxent_params`) โ `WekaClassifier` is not among them, and weka.py contains no `validate_tool_path`/`validate_model_resource` at all.
## Root Cause
`WekaClassifier.train(cls, model_filename, ...)` builds `cmd = [javaclass, "-d", model_filename, "-t", train_filename]` (nltk/classify/weka.py:256) and `WekaClassifier._classify_many` builds `[..., "-l", self._model, "-T", <staged>, ...]` (weka.py:131-133); `self._model` is stored unvalidated in `__init__` (weka.py:108-110). Only the internally-generated `train.arff`/`test.arff` are staged via `make_staging_dir`; the model path is passed as-is. `nltk.internals.java()` (internals.py:388-431) validates the classpath (`_verify_jar_sandbox`), the JVM launcher options (`_validate_java_options`, the CVE-2026-12841 fix),
HIGH
Severity & confidence
Source severityhigh
Platform severityhigh
Confidencemedium
Exploitationunknown
CVSS8.6
Affected
Vendorsnltk
Productsnltk
Reporting sources (1)
GitHub Security Advisories
Timeline & provenance
Published2026-10-27T14:50:30
Last updated2026-10-28T20:51:18
Ingested2026-10-27T15:04:08
FreshnessNEAR-REAL-TIME
Threat typeadvisory
Recommended action
Review the advisory and upgrade affected packages to the first patched version.
Next steps
- Identify affected systems in your environment.
- Apply the vendor patch or mitigation guidance.
- Review logs for indicators described in the advisory.
- Follow the affected vendor/product to track updates.
Confidence explanation
Reported by a single or secondary source; treat as indicative, verify before acting.
Source type: vendor ยท Original: GitHub Security Advisories