Description
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, POSIX xonsh activation quote() uses repr() to write printable non-ASCII prompt or destination data into UTF-8 activate.xsh, while xonsh can read that script using $XONSH_ENCODING. Under a legacy multibyte codec such as GBK or Big5, a UTF-8 trail byte can consume the backslash before an adjacent quote, allowing the literal to close and attacker-influenced statements to execute when the user sources the generated script. 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 | No fix yet | — |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | virtualenv | < 21.14.9 | 21.14.9 | GHSA-394h-qwmc-48pf |
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2026:12372-1 python313-virtualenv-21.15.1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 31, 2026