CVE-2026-113717: CWE-494: Download of Code Without Integrity Check in pypa virtualenv
Description
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, PipInvoke.get_pip_install_cmd() handles --seeder pip --download by calling get_wheel(download=False) and then allowing pip to consult the configured index, bypassing virtualenv's download_wheel() and verify_wheel_digest() path. When virtualenv's default-index PyPI digest comparison remains enabled, an index candidate matching the bundled package and version can therefore be selected without comparison to PyPI SHA-256 metadata. Explicit custom-index settings already opt out of that comparison and remain outside this verification-bypass claim; the demonstrated configuration used a non-PyPI index while leaving the index environment variables unset so the comparison policy remained active. This condition does not independently defeat TLS or establish control of the index response. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.
CVSS v4.0
Score 2.3low
Affected software
pypa
virtualenv
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Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability in virtualenv versions before 21.14.9 arises from the PipInvoke.get_pip_install_cmd() method handling the --seeder pip --download option by calling get_wheel(download=False), which lets pip consult the configured index directly. This bypasses virtualenv's usual download_wheel() and verify_wheel_digest() functions that verify the integrity of downloaded wheel packages. When using the default PyPI index with digest comparison enabled, an index candidate matching the bundled package and version can be selected without verifying its SHA-256 digest against PyPI metadata. Custom index configurations that opt out of digest comparison are unaffected by this verification bypass. The vulnerability does not compromise TLS or allow manipulation of the index response. The issue is resolved in version 21.14.9.
Potential Impact
The impact is limited to a potential integrity verification bypass of wheel packages downloaded via pip when using virtualenv with the --seeder pip --download option and the default PyPI index. This could allow a wheel package to be selected without full SHA-256 digest verification, but it does not compromise TLS or enable control over the index response. The CVSS score of 2.3 reflects the low severity and limited impact.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade virtualenv to version 21.14.9 or later, where this issue is fixed. No other mitigation is required as the vulnerability is resolved by this official fix.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-10-20T16:03:14.863Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6ad7c23c2cdf04f656561a7c
Added to database: 10/20/2026, 19:34:20 UTC
Last enriched: 10/20/2026, 19:48:28 UTC
Last updated: 10/20/2026, 20:04:00 UTC
Views: 7
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