Vulnerability · CVE-2026-113723
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments.
Published Oct 20, 2026 · catalog updated Oct 23, 2026 · virtualenv is a tool
Last checked Nov 6, 2026. A connected source was read within the last 7 days.
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-113723. EPSS is 0.24%. Act only if a listed version of virtualenv is a tool is installed.
Gaps on this record
- The stored product name is a package slug. The name on this page is taken from the title (virtualenv is a tool).
- No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
- Severity
- High7.1
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 0.24%
- Remediation
- Version ranges on file
- Affected products
- PyPI virtualenv · package pip · pip virtualenv · pypi virtualenv
## Summary Caller-supplied prompt text can become executable syntax in the bash activation prompt. An attacker must influence the value passed to virtualenv, and a user must subsequently activate the environment and draw the prompt. ## Affected area Bash runs with compatibility level 4.2 and draws the environment prompt. Its replacement-string behavior differs from newer compatibility modes, leaving prompt text subject to a second interpretation. The report concerns POSIX activation. It does not establish exposure through unrelated activators. ## Attacker-controlled input The attacker controls prompt or destination data passed as a virtualenv argument. The user later sources the generated activation script. ## Affected code The relevant 21.14.8 source is in [bash prompt assembly](https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/blob/a795ab116356afde11039cf2763d77e8a06da738/src/virtualenv/activation/bash/activate.sh). ## Mechanism copies the prompt into . A shell expands again when it draws a prompt, so the value must survive both the assignment and that later expansion. The bash and zsh branches escape for their usual prompt rules. Three other paths still interpret prompt data as commands: dash sourcing directly, a child dash inheriting an exported from bash, and bash running at compatibility level 4.2 or lower. A value such as then runs on prompt display. Creating the environment does not run the payload. ## Reproduction and evidence The scanner's child-shell reproducer creates an environment with , sources in interactive bash, and starts interactive (dash). Its control leaves unexported: neither shell creates . With exported, bash displays the prompt without executing the value, but the child dash creates ; the reproducer ends in . The report gives separate console reproductions for direct dash activation and bash compatibility level 4.2. The child-shell path can arise after another environment's activation has exported . The scanner linked this finding to [#3326](https://githu
Are you affected?
Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.
The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.
- PyPI virtualenv0 → 21.14.9
- package pipversion unspecified
- pip virtualenv< 21.14.9
- pypi virtualenvversion unspecified
How to fix CVE-2026-113723
Upgrade
CVE-2026-113723 lists a fix boundary at 21.14.9. Compare the installed build with that boundary before you change production.
Version check
Affected < 21.14.9
Advisory
Open the cve_org record and follow its fix.
Official advisories
What to do
Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.
Should you patch?
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-113723. EPSS is 0.24%. Act only if a listed version of virtualenv is a tool is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Compare what you have installed with 0 → 21.14.9, < 21.14.9. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
CWE-78: OS Command Injection. EPSS 0.24%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Oct 20, 2026 · NIST NVD
Detected
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, caller-supplied prompt text can become executable syntax in the bash activation prompt. An attacker must influence the value passed to virtualenv, and a user must subsequently activate the environment and draw the prompt. This vulnerability is fixed in 21.14.9.
Oct 22, 2026 · NIST NVD
Updated
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, caller-supplied prompt text can become executable syntax in the bash activation prompt. An attacker must influence the value passed to virtualenv, and a user must subsequently activate the environment and draw the prompt. This vulnerability is fixed in 21.14.9.
Oct 23, 2026 · GitHub Advisory Database
Updated
## Summary Caller-supplied prompt text can become executable syntax in the bash activation prompt. An attacker must influence the value passed to virtualenv, and a user must subsequently activate the environment and draw the prompt. ## Affected area Bash runs with compatibility level 4.2 and draws the environment prompt. Its replacement-string behavior differs from newer compatibility modes, leavi
Oct 23, 2026 · PyPA Advisory Database
Fix available
virtualenv fixed in 21.14.9
Oct 23, 2026 · PyPA Advisory Database
Fix available
virtualenv fixed in 21.14.9
Oct 23, 2026 · PyPA Advisory Database
Updated
## Summary Caller-supplied prompt text can become executable syntax in the bash activation prompt. An attacker must influence the value passed to virtualenv, and a user must subsequently activate the environment and draw the prompt. ## Affected area Bash runs with compatibility level 4.2 and draws the environment prompt. Its replacement-string behavior differs from newer compatibility modes, leavi
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-113723
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-113723
30-day exploitation probability 0.24%
first.org - GitHub Advisory DatabasePackage advisoryGHSA-6w3r-xr62-4xcp
virtualenv: Bash prompt values can change meaning under older compatibility modes
github.com - GitLab Advisory DatabasePackage advisoryCVE-2026-113723
Caller-supplied prompt text can become executable syntax in the bash activation prompt. An attacker must influence the value passed to virtualenv, and a user must subsequently activate the environment and draw the prompt.
advisories.gitlab.com - NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2026-113723
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, caller-supplied prompt text can become executable syntax in the bash activation prompt. An attacker must influence the value passed to virtualenv, and a user must subsequently activate the e
nvd.nist.gov - PyPA Advisory DatabasePackage advisoryGHSA-6w3r-xr62-4xcp
virtualenv: Bash prompt values can change meaning under older compatibility modes
osv.dev - Snyk Vulnerability DatabasePackage advisorySNYK-PYTHON-VIRTUALENV-21282491
Command Injection
security.snyk.io
References
Freshness
Last verified in this catalog Nov 6, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.
- FIRST EPSSNov 6, 2026
- GitLab Advisory DatabaseOct 27, 2026
- PyPA Advisory DatabaseOct 25, 2026
- GitHub Advisory DatabaseOct 24, 2026
- Snyk Vulnerability DatabaseOct 23, 2026
- CVE.orgOct 23, 2026
- NIST NVDOct 22, 2026