Description
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.13.0, the bash activate script that zsh also sources leaves the environment name unescaped; from 21.13.0 until 21.14.4, it escapes backslashes, dollar signs, and backticks only when BASH_VERSION is set, so zsh receives the raw value. The script assigns that value to PS1. In zsh with PROMPT_SUBST, an attacker-influenced environment directory, --prompt, or VIRTUALENV_PROMPT value containing command, parameter, or arithmetic expansion syntax can therefore execute commands in the user's shell each time the prompt is drawn. A percent sign is separately interpreted as a zsh prompt escape but does not by itself execute commands. Plain zsh with PROMPT_SUBST disabled and bash are not affected by this mechanism. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.4.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| pypa | virtualenv | < 21.14.4 | — |
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 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | python3-virtualenv | 20.4.0-3.amzn2023.0.6 | ALAS2023-2026-3409 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | python3.13-virtualenv | 20.21.1-1.amzn2023.0.5 | ALAS2023-2026-3410 |
| Amazon Linux 2 | python-virtualenv | 15.1.0-4.amzn2.0.1 | ALAS2-2026-4085 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | python-pip | No fix yet | — |
| Azure Linux 3 | python-virtualenv | 20.36.1-10 | — |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | virtualenv | < 21.14.4 | 21.14.4 | GHSA-5vjq-rrrf-7h2q |
Advisories 4
- ALAS2023-2026-3409 Important: python-virtualenv security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Nov 9, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3410 Important: python3.13-virtualenv security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Nov 9, 2026
- ALAS2-2026-4085 Important: python-virtualenv security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Nov 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:12372-1 python313-virtualenv-21.15.1-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 31, 2026