virtualenv activation scripts run code from a path that contains a placeholder name

MITRE NVD CVE.ORG JSON API

Summary

CVECVE-2026-113776
StatePUBLISHED
AssignerGitHub_M
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-10-20 22:19:30 UTC
Updated2026-10-20 22:19:30 UTC
Descriptionvirtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. From 20.26.6 until 21.14.2, ViaTemplateActivator.instantiate_template() replaces placeholders one key at a time across the complete activation template, so trigger names such as __VIRTUAL_NAME__, __VIRTUAL_ENV__, or __VIRTUAL_PROMPT__ inside an already substituted and quoted environment path or prompt can be replaced during a later pass. The later value's quoting can close the earlier literal and execute the remaining path when a user activates the environment through bash, fish, xonsh, or activate_this.py. The distinct csh prompt-display token __VIRTUAL_PROMPT_DISPLAY_TCSH__ can instead break the generated script without establishing command execution. The attacker must influence the destination path or --prompt, and a value without a relevant placeholder name does not trigger this mechanism. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.2.

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-94 | CWE-78 CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') | CWE-94 CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

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 >= 20.26.6, < 21.14.2 Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.2 [email protected] github.com
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/602b26623a724827ff171bf11fef4ad186d01f74 [email protected] github.com
github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp [email protected] github.com
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