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VulnerabilityPublished

CVE-2026-115586: pypa virtualenv · OS Command Injection

Affects pypa virtualenvSource CVE Database V5

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High : upgrade to 21.14.13 soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:18 UTC

CVSS 4.0 base score
7.1High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 9% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 21.14.13
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 23 Oct 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade pypa virtualenv to 21.14.13.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
pypavirtualenvAffected
  • >=21.14.9 <21.14.13
Fixed in
  • 21.14.13
PyPIvirtualenvpkg:pypi/virtualenvOther threatsAffected
  • >=21.14.9 <21.14.13
Fixed in
  • 21.14.13

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

Upgrade virtualenv to version 21.14.13 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. Until then, avoid using untrusted input for the --prompt option or ensure that promptvars and POSIX mode are enabled during activation to prevent command substitution. No other vendor advisory content is provided; patch status is confirmed fixed in 21.14.13.

Description

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. From 21.14.9 until 21.14.13, the bash bin/activate script can copy an attacker-controlled --prompt value into PS1 without escaping dollar signs or backticks when both promptvars and POSIX mode are disabled during activation. Re-enabling promptvars, running set -o posix, or starting an interactive child bash that inherits the exported PS1 can then expand command substitution in the stored VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT value and execute commands as the user who activates the environment. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.13.

References

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