Description
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.7.11, PyEnvCfg.write() writes prompt values verbatim to the line-oriented pyvenv.cfg format while PyEnvCfg._read_values() parses the file with str.splitlines() and accepts the last value for duplicate keys. An attacker who influences --prompt, VIRTUALENV_PROMPT, or configuration input can insert a recognized line boundary and additional keys, including home, causing consumers to use an attacker-selected base interpreter or corrupted environment metadata. The security impact requires prompt input from outside the operator's trust boundary; directly supplied prompt content primarily corrupts the operator's own environment. This issue is fixed in version 21.7.11.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| pypa | virtualenv | < 21.7.11 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 13 | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 24.04 LTS | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | python-virtualenv | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP6 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
| SLES 3 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | python-virtualenv | 20.29.3-160000.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:24243-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP6 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | python-virtualenv | 20.29.3-160000.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:24243-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | python-virtualenv | 20.22.0-150400.9.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python-virtualenv | 21.14.2-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:11974-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | python-virtualenv | 20.29.3-160000.4.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:22100-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | python3-virtualenv | 20.4.0-3.amzn2023.0.5 | ALAS2023-2026-3295 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | python3.13-virtualenv | 20.21.1-1.amzn2023.0.4 | ALAS2023-2026-3296 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | python-virtualenv | 20.36.1-10 | — |
Wolfi
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfi rolling | py3-cassandra-medusa | 0.30.1-r3 | — |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | virtualenv | < 21.7.11 | 21.7.11 | GHSA-9h9j-4vrj-gf7g |
Advisories 7
- WID-SEC-2026-4111 Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3295 Important: python-virtualenv security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 26, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3296 Important: python3.13-virtualenv security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 26, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:24243-1 Security update for python-virtualenv SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 21, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:22100-1 Security update for python-virtualenv SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 19, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:4652-1 Security update for python-virtualenv SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 14, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:11974-1 python313-virtualenv-21.14.2-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 3, 2026