virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. From 21.14.9 until 21.14.13, the bash bin/activate script can copy an attacker-controlled --prompt value into PS1 without escaping dollar signs or backticks when both promptvars and POSIX mode are disabled during activation. Re-enabling promptvars, running set -o posix, or starting an interactive child bash that inherits the exported PS1 can then expand command substitution in the stored VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT value and execute commands as the user who activates the environment. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.13.

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity High

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements Present

User Interaction Active

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

No CVSS v3.1

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
pypa virtualenv affected
Version Status Constraints
>= 21.14.9, < 21.14.13 affected —

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Project Subscriptions

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc virtualenv: Bash activator leaves the --prompt value unescaped in PS1 when promptvars is off, so prompt expansion later executes it (regression in 21.14.9)
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/3598e201f6f044e389136b2347a8a919ac03c5f4 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3466 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.13 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc cve-icon cve-icon
History

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. From 21.14.9 until 21.14.13, the bash bin/activate script can copy an attacker-controlled --prompt value into PS1 without escaping dollar signs or backticks when both promptvars and POSIX mode are disabled during activation. Re-enabling promptvars, running set -o posix, or starting an interactive child bash that inherits the exported PS1 can then expand command substitution in the stored VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT value and execute commands as the user who activates the environment. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.13.
Title virtualenv: Bash activator leaves the --prompt value unescaped in PS1 when promptvars is off, so prompt expansion later executes it (regression in 21.14.9)
Weaknesses CWE-78
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-23T20:55:42.764Z

Reserved: 2026-10-22T22:53:15.239Z

Link: CVE-2026-115586

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-23T20:45:54.216Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-10-23T20:17:21.363

Modified: 2026-10-23T21:17:22.793

Link: CVE-2026-115586

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-23T21:00:08Z

Weaknesses