CVE-2026-113776: Virtualenvwrapper · virtualenv activation scripts run code from a path that contains a placeholder name
Affects virtualenvwrapperSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High : upgrade to 6.1.1_3 soon.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 05:16 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (GitHub_M) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 |
|---|
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.1.1_3
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation 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_3.
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_3 that fixes the issue by preventing placeholder names from being interpreted as code in activation scripts. Users should upgrade to version 6.1.1_3 or later. As a workaround, avoid creating virtual environments with paths or --prompt values containing placeholder names such as __VIRTUAL_NAME__, __VIRTUAL_ENV__, or __VIRTUAL_PROMPT__. Additionally, inspect activation scripts before sourcing them if they were generated by untrusted sources.
Description
Virtualenvwrapper versions from 6.1.0 up to but not including 6.1.1_3 contain a vulnerability in the activation scripts where placeholder names in environment paths or prompts can be interpreted as code. This occurs because the template substitution process rewrites placeholders inside quoted literals, allowing injected commands to execute when activating the environment. The issue is fixed in version 6.1.1_3. Users should avoid creating environments with placeholder names in paths or prompts and review activation scripts before sourcing.
References
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113776 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/602b26623a724827ff171bf11fef4ad186d01f74 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.2 (opens in a new tab)