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OpenAdvisories
Medium · 4.5 CVE-2026-113721 BIT-virtualenv-2026-113721EUVD-2026-105303GHSA-558c-9hv2-4prj

virtualenv: Generated files can follow existing destination links

Published Oct 20, 2026 · Updated Oct 28, 2026 · Assigned by GitHub_M

Description

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.

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
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.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 14 python-virtualenv No fix yet —
Debian 13 python-virtualenv No fix yet —
Debian 12 python-virtualenv No fix yet —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
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)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
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 —

Azure Linux

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Azure Linux 3 python-virtualenv 20.36.1-10 —

Affected packages

EcosystemPackageAffectedFixedRecord
PyPI virtualenv < 21.14.9 21.14.9 GHSA-558c-9hv2-4prj

References