virtualenv activate runs commands from the environment name in zsh with PROMPT_SUBST

MITRE NVD CVE.ORG JSON API

Summary

CVECVE-2026-113726
StatePUBLISHED
AssignerGitHub_M
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-10-20 22:19:29 UTC
Updated2026-10-20 22:19:29 UTC
Descriptionvirtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.13.0, the bash activate script that zsh also sources leaves the environment name unescaped; from 21.13.0 until 21.14.4, it escapes backslashes, dollar signs, and backticks only when BASH_VERSION is set, so zsh receives the raw value. The script assigns that value to PS1. In zsh with PROMPT_SUBST, an attacker-influenced environment directory, --prompt, or VIRTUALENV_PROMPT value containing command, parameter, or arithmetic expansion syntax can therefore execute commands in the user's shell each time the prompt is drawn. A percent sign is separately interpreted as a zsh prompt escape but does not by itself execute commands. Plain zsh with PROMPT_SUBST disabled and bash are not affected by this mechanism. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.4.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 7.8 HIGH from [email protected]

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

Problem Types: CWE-78 | CWE-116 | CWE-78 CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') | CWE-116 CWE-116: Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1[email protected]Secondary7.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.1CNADECLARED7.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

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

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

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Pypa Virtualenv affected < 21.14.4 Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-5vjq-rrrf-7h2q [email protected] github.com
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/5b915367da82bd024b2a0d28d2f98007034b4aa2 [email protected] github.com
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.4 [email protected] github.com
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