virtualenv: Builtin creation follows linked environment directories

MITRE NVD CVE.ORG JSON API

Summary

CVECVE-2026-113716
StatePUBLISHED
AssignerGitHub_M
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-10-20 20:17:17 UTC
Updated2026-10-20 20:17:17 UTC
Descriptionvirtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, the builtin creator calls ensure_dir() for executable, library, and package directories, and ensure_dir() accepts an existing symlink to a directory because exists() follows it. Interpreter creation, seed installation, and activation generation then write through the linked parent outside the requested destination when another local account prepared the tree and the invoking user can access the target. The --clear option removes the planted tree first, while ordinary creation reaches it; arbitrary attacker-selected output bytes are not established. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 4.5 MEDIUM from [email protected]

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

Problem Types: CWE-59 | CWE-59 CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1[email protected]Secondary4.5MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
3.1CNADECLARED4.5MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
Low

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

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Pypa Virtualenv affected < 21.14.9 Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cw65-gx24-rc82 [email protected] github.com
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/554d9f9d4f7758f5cf53f993031e29787f1f74c5 [email protected] github.com
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.9 [email protected] github.com
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3429 [email protected] github.com
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