Description
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, the builtin creator calls ensure_dir() for executable, library, and package directories, and ensure_dir() accepts an existing symlink to a directory because exists() follows it. Interpreter creation, seed installation, and activation generation then write through the linked parent outside the requested destination when another local account prepared the tree and the invoking user can access the target. The --clear option removes the planted tree first, while ordinary creation reaches it; arbitrary attacker-selected output bytes are not established. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| pypa | virtualenv | < 21.14.9 | — |
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 | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | python-virtualenv | 21.15.1-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:12372-1 |
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 | 0.31.0-r1 | — |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | virtualenv | < 21.14.9 | 21.14.9 | GHSA-cw65-gx24-rc82 |
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2026:12372-1 python313-virtualenv-21.15.1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 31, 2026