virtualenv activation scripts run code from a path that contains a placeholder name (pypa virtualenv)
At a glance
- Source
- NVD
- EPSS
- EPSS 0.27 % · percentile 19 ()
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Updated
- Assigner
- GitHub_M
- NVD status
- Awaiting Analysis
Description
virtualenv 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.
Weaknesses (CWE)
- CWE-78 — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
- CWE-94 — Improper Control of Generation of Code
References
Scores
| Version | Score | Vector | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH 7.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | GitHub_M |
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH 7.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | NVD · security-advisories@github.com (Secondary) |
Advisories
- GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp — virtualenv activation scripts run code from a path that contains a placeholder name
European references
- ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-106868
- GCVE · GCVE-0-2026-113776
Affected products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| pypa · virtualenv | affected >= 20.26.6, < 21.14.2 |
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 |