virtualenvwrapper · virtualenv: Bash activator leaves the --prompt value unescaped in PS1 when promptvars is off, so prompt expansion
Affects virtualenvwrapperSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High : upgrade to 6.1.1_5 soon.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 05:16 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (GitHub_M) | CVSS 4.0 | 7.1 |
|---|
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.1.1_5
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 23 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by 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 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade virtualenvwrapper to 6.1.1_5.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Homebrewvirtualenvwrapperpkg:brew/virtualenvwrapperOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available in virtualenvwrapper version 6.1.1_5 that restores proper escaping of special characters in the prompt value to prevent command execution. Users should upgrade to this fixed version to mitigate the vulnerability. Until patched, avoid using untrusted or attacker-controlled prompt values when creating or activating virtual environments.
Description
A vulnerability in virtualenv's bash activation script allows an attacker-controlled prompt value to be inserted unescaped into the PS1 environment variable when the bash shell option 'promptvars' is off at activation time. Because 'promptvars' and posix mode can be re-enabled later in the same shell or in child shells, the stored prompt value is expanded and any embedded command substitutions are executed. This regression was introduced in version 21.14.9 and persists through 21.14.12. The issue affects the bash 'bin/activate' script and can lead to command execution as the user activating the environment.
References
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3466 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/3598e201f6f044e389136b2347a8a919ac03c5f4 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.13 (opens in a new tab)