virtualenv: Generated files can follow existing destination links (pypa virtualenv)
At a glance
- Source
- NVD
- EPSS
- EPSS 0.14 % · percentile 4 ()
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Updated
- Assigner
- GitHub_M
- NVD status
- Awaiting Analysis
Description
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, ViaTemplateActivator._generate() removes an existing output only when Path.exists() is true, allowing a dangling symlink to survive and redirect generated activation content, while PyEnvCfg.write() opens pyvenv.cfg without first replacing an existing symbolic or hard link. Another local account that prepares final entries inside the destination can therefore cause environment creation to create or overwrite files outside the requested tree with constrained virtualenv-generated content and the invoking user's permissions. The destination parent must remain controlled by the environment owner during creation; concurrent parent-directory replacement is a separate concern. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.
Weaknesses (CWE)
- CWE-59 — Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
References
Scores
| Version | Score | Vector | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM 4.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L | GitHub_M |
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM 4.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L | NVD · security-advisories@github.com (Secondary) |
Advisories
- GHSA-558c-9hv2-4prj — virtualenv: Generated files can follow existing destination links
European references
- ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-105303
- GCVE · GCVE-0-2026-113721
Affected products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| pypa · virtualenv | affected < 21.14.9 |
Sources
| Source | Licence |
|---|---|
| CVE List (CVEProject cvelistV5) | CVE Program Terms of Use |
| EPSS (FIRST.org) | FIRST — attribution requested |
| ENISA EUVD | ENISA — reproduction authorised, source acknowledged |
| NVD (NIST) via fkie-cad/nvd-json-data-feeds | Public domain — this product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD |