NLTK: Uncontrolled search path when invoking the Graphviz 'dot' binary

Two NLTK sites executed the Graphviz `dot` program by bare name, so process creation resolved it via the search path , and on Windows via the current working directory , rather than a validated absolute location. An attacker who can place a file named `dot` where resolution looks (the CWD on Windows, or a writable/relative entry such as `.` on `PATH`) has their binary executed in place of Graphviz (arbitrary code execution). Affected (<= 3.10.2): - `nltk.parse.dependencygraph.dot2img` , called `find_binary("dot")` but discarded the returned validated path and then ran the bare name `["dot", ...]`, so the validation had no effect. - `nltk.translate.api.AlignedSent._repr_svg_` , ran the bare name with no validation at all (IPython SVG rendering). This is the same class already fixed for the senna, weka, boxer, malt, repp and hunpos wrappers. `nltk.internals.find_binary` refuses a CWD-relative match for a bare tool name and returns only a trusted absolute path; the fix runs that path in both sites. --- ## Attack demonstration Captured output, not illustrative. A `./dot` that writes a `PWNED` marker, planted in the CWD with `.` prepended to `PATH`. **The vulnerable behaviour (old bare-name exec):** ``` Control (OLD behavior) , bare ['dot'] in this dir with '.' on PATH: bare ['dot'] executed planted binary = True ``` **The patched functions refuse it:** ``` FIXED code, with ./dot planted and '.' on PATH: dependencygraph.dot2img : Exception "Cannot find the dot binary..." | planted-binary-executed=False safe AlignedSent._repr_svg_ : Exception "Cannot find the dot binary..." | planted-binary-executed=False safe ``` **And `find_binary` itself was attacked directly** (the fix trusts nothing else): ``` Attack 1: ./dot in CWD, no dot on PATH -> LookupError (refused) safe Attack 2: ./dot/dot (dir 'dot' holding 'dot') -> LookupError (refused) safe Attack 3: '.' on PATH + ./dot -> LookupError (refused) safe Attack 4: attacker-writable ABSOLUTE dir on PATH -> returned /…/evilbin/dot (absolute) ``` Attack 4 is out of scope: trusting an absolute directory that is already on `PATH` is the operating system's own trust model , an attacker who can write to a `PATH` directory owns the account regardless of NLTK. `find_binary` defends specifically against the CWD/relative injection that bare-name exec is vulnerable to (attacks 1–3), which is exactly what this fix inherits. Environment: python 3.13.7. `dot` is not required to reproduce , the planted binary is the payload.

CVSS 3.1

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

Severity from

GitHub (reviewed advisory)

Weakness

CWE-426, CWE-427

Also known as

CVE-2026-78680, PYSEC-2026-3868

• github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-6hwm-xvph-95vm
• nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-78680
• github.com/nltk/nltk/commit/1a3cd1764ab3deb084fb66d0ffb4873717659538
• github.com/nltk/nltk
• github.com/nltk/nltk/releases/tag/v3.10.3
• www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nltk-before-arbitrary-code-execution-via-graphviz-dot-binary