CVE-2026-113724: virtualenv · Deletion recovery can change a symlink target's mode
Affects virtualenvwrapperSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 4.5 Medium : upgrade to 6.1.1_4 when convenient.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 05:17 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (GitHub_M) | CVSS 3.1 | 4.5 |
|---|
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.1.1_4
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:LExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 20 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_4.
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 fix is available in virtualenvwrapper version 6.1.1_4. Users should upgrade to this version or later to remediate the issue. The fix avoids changing POSIX mode bits on deletion failure and properly handles read-only entries without following symlinks. No additional mitigation steps are required if the patched version is used.
Description
A vulnerability in virtualenv's deletion error handler can cause unintended permission changes on the target of a symbolic link during a failed unlink operation. Specifically, when a deletion fails on a symlink inside a read-only directory, the error handler uses lstat() to get permission bits but applies them with chmod(), which follows the symlink and changes the target's mode. This can widen permissions on the target file, potentially allowing other users access if they can traverse the target's parent directories. The issue affects virtualenv versions from 6.1.1_3 up to but not including 6.1.1_4 and has been fixed in 6.1.1_4.
References
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-43mp-35q3-x3fq (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113724 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3427 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/2bfdc0230d1b2685fedfcfe66c835b9a2ec7c440 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.9 (opens in a new tab)