CVE-2026-81722
HIGHDescription
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.
How to fix
TridentStack Control can deploy fixes like this automatically across your Windows, macOS, and Linux fleet. See how it works
Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Exploit Intelligence
Low risk: more likely to be exploited than 30% of all known CVEs.
References
Related Vulnerabilities
Other CWE-407 vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all
| CVE | Severity | CVSS | EPSS | Exploited | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2020-27223 | Medium | 5.2 | 78% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2022-36021 | Medium | 5.5 | 61% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2021-33582 | High | 7.5 | 3.1% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2024-43485 | High | 7.5 | 3.1% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2024-43484 | High | 7.5 | 2.9% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2016-10396 | High | 7.5 | 2.9% | - | - |
Common questions
How do I fix CVE-2026-81722?
Upgrade nltk on debian unstable to 3.10.3-1 or later.
Is CVE-2026-81722 being actively exploited?
Not that we know of. CVE-2026-81722 is not in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score of 0.36% is the estimated probability that it will be exploited in the next 30 days. That is higher than 30% of all scored CVEs.
How severe is CVE-2026-81722?
CVE-2026-81722 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.5, rated high. CVSS rates the technical impact if the vulnerability is exploited, not how likely that is, so weigh it alongside the exploit-prediction score when you decide what to patch first.
What does CVE-2026-81722 affect?
Published advisories record a fix for nltk (Debian). Only products with a sourced advisory are listed, so treat this as what we can cite rather than a complete inventory.
Embed a live status badge for CVE-2026-81722
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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2026-08-31.