CVE-2026-113721 json
virtualenv: Generated files can follow existing destination links
published 20d ago modified 11d ago also BIT-virtualenv-2026-113721 , EUVD-2026-105303 , GHSA-558c-9hv2-4prj
- cvss
- 4.5
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.1%
- EPSS 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 3%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, ViaTemplateActivator._generate() removes an existing output only when Path.exists() is true, allowing a dangling symlink to survive and redirect generated activation content, while PyEnvCfg.write() opens pyvenv.cfg without first replacing an existing symbolic or hard link. Another local account that prepares final entries inside the destination can therefore cause environment creation to create or overwrite files outside the requested tree with constrained virtualenv-generated content and the invoking user's permissions. The destination parent must remain controlled by the environment owner during creation; concurrent parent-directory replacement is a separate concern. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.
Patch / fix
- pypi virtualenv 21.14.9
- bitnami virtualenv 21.14.9
- virtualenv virtualenv 21.14.9
- python-virtualenv Azure Linux 3.0 20.36.1-10
azure linux advisories AZL-110124
Azure Linux vulnerability data, Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation, from https://github.com/microsoft/AzureLinuxVulnerabilityData via OSV, under the MIT licence; changed: normalised to fixed package versions per release. MIT
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv@d25f286 commit
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv#3431 pull request
- github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.9 release
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red hat product security vex CVE-2026-113721 updated cvss 4.5
virtualenv: virtualenv: Arbitrary file overwrite via insecure symlink handling
-
Red Hat OpenShift Lightspeed openshift-lightspeed/lightspeed-service-api-rhel9 Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2 python-virtualenv 20.25.1-2.el10ap, python3.11-virtualenv 20.25.1-1.el9ap, python3.12-virtualenv 20.25.1-2.el9ap, ansible-automation-platform-26/controller-rhel9, ansible-automation-platform-27/controller-rhel9, ansible-automation-platform-26/eda-controller-rhel9, +2 more Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI) rhoai/odh-ta-lmes-job-rhel9, rhoai/odh-kserve-agent-rhel9, rhoai/odh-kserve-router-rhel9, rhoai/odh-feature-server-rhel9, rhoai/odh-kserve-controller-rhel9, rhai-early-access/docling-serve-cuda-rhel9, +6 more Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 python-virtualenv 20.25.1-2.el10ap Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces devspaces/udi-rhel9 Red Hat Satellite 6 satellite/iop-yuptoo-rhel9, satellite/iop-host-inventory-rhel9, satellite/iop-advisor-backend-rhel9affected: no fix available “Fix deferred”
Red Hat CSAF VEX © Red Hat, Inc., from https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/; changed: reduced to product statuses and remediations. CC BY 4.0 · csaf
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
- Assessed
- 12d ago
Exploit prediction
0.14% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 3% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 3.1 | 4.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 4.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L |
| OSV | 3.1 | 4.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| pypi | virtualenv | <21.14.9 |
21.14.9 |
| bitnami | virtualenv | <21.14.9 |
21.14.9 |
Affected products
- pypa virtualenv
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
References
-
github.com
/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3431
web
-
github.com
/pypa/virtualenv/commit/d25f28699eefb1fc34a251e5adf2b5de844c36cd
web
-
github.com
/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-558c-9hv2-4prj
web
-
github.com
/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.9
web
-
nvd.nist.gov
/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113721
advisory, web
-
github.com
/pypa/virtualenv
package
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2026-113721
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-558c-9hv2-4prj
- NVD CVE-2026-113721
- OSV BIT-virtualenv-2026-113721
Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.
CPEs and fixed versions use Anchore's correction of NVD's data: Added CPE configurations because not yet analyzed by NVD.