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TI-2026-78536 Aliases CVE-2026-113776GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp

virtualenv activation scripts run code from a path that contains a placeholder name

Priority LOW 36CWE-78Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 5 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA, GitHub and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-78.

Summary

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. From 20.26.6 until 21.14.2, ViaTemplateActivator.instantiate_template() replaces placeholders one key at a time across the complete activation template, so trigger names such as __VIRTUAL_NAME__, __VIRTUAL_ENV__, or __VIRTUAL_PROMPT__ inside an already substituted and quoted environment path or prompt can be replaced during a later pass. The later value's quoting can close the earlier literal and execute the remaining path when a user activates the environment through bash, fish, xonsh, or activate_this.py. The distinct csh prompt-display token __VIRTUAL_PROMPT_DISPLAY_TCSH__ can instead break the generated script without establishing command execution. The attacker must influence the destination path or --prompt, and a value without a relevant placeholder name does not trigger this mechanism. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.2.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00269 19th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial virtualenv (pypa): 21.14.2virtualenv (PyPI): 21.14.2Red Hat: 5 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
pypavirtualenv20.26.6 to before 21.14.221.14.2Patch availableCNA
—virtualenv (PyPI)20.26.6 to before 21.14.221.14.2Patch availableGHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp
  • virtualenv Vendorpypa Affected 20.26.6 to before 21.14.2 Fixed in 21.14.2 Patch available CNA
  • virtualenv (PyPI) Vendor— Affected 20.26.6 to before 21.14.2 Fixed in 21.14.2 Patch available GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA virtualenv (pypa) Fixed in 21.14.2
  • Fix · GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp virtualenv (PyPI) Fixed in 21.14.2 Advisory →

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
OpenShift LightspeedAffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat OpenShift Dev SpacesAffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Satellite 6AffectedNo fix yet
Not affected: 3 products
  • Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2
  • Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)
  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-21 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-113776
  2. 2026-10-21 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  3. 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · Red Hat
  4. 2026-10-21 Alias added: GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp
  5. 2026-10-21 Fix available: PyPI/[email protected] · GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp
  6. 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp
  7. 2026-10-21 Weakness changed · GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp
  8. 2026-10-21 5 new references · GHSA-8rjx-v5ww-45pp
  9. 2026-10-22 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  10. 2026-10-22 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  11. 2026-10-28 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  12. 2026-11-02 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  13. 2026-11-03 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  14. 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat

References

Advisory 1

Other 4

  • TI-2025-29803 setuptools has a path traversal vulnerability in PackageIndex.download that leads to Arbitrary File Write CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.7
  • TI-2024-05888 Remote Code Execution in pypa/setuptools CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2026-78525 Shell command injection in virtualenv generated POSIX launchers CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2026-78526 Command injection in virtualenv bash activation prompt CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
  • TI-2026-78521 Code injection in virtualenv Xonsh activation script CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
  • TI-2026-19377 wheel Allows Arbitrary File Permission Modification via Path Traversal CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.1
See all 36 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences