virtualenv: Bash activator leaves the --prompt value unescaped in PS1 when promptvars is off, so prompt expansion
Affects virtualenvSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High : upgrade to 21.14.13 soon.
Data as of 29 Oct 2026, 14:41 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (GitHub_M) | CVSS 4.0 | 7.1 |
|---|
- 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: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 virtualenv to 21.14.13.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Bitnamivirtualenvpkg:bitnami/virtualenvOther 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
Upgrade virtualenv to version 21.14.13 or later, where this issue is fixed. Avoid using untrusted input for the --prompt option. Alternatively, ensure that promptvars is enabled or POSIX mode is set during activation to prevent unescaped prompt expansion.
Description
A vulnerability in virtualenv versions 21.14.9 through 21.14.12 allows an attacker-controlled --prompt value to be copied into the PS1 environment variable without proper escaping when promptvars and POSIX mode are disabled. This can lead to command execution when prompt expansion occurs. The issue is fixed in version 21.14.13.
References
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/3598e201f6f044e389136b2347a8a919ac03c5f4 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3466 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.13 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-115586 (opens in a new tab)