CVE catalog
CVE-2026-115586
python-virtualenv: CVE-2026-115586
- Severity
- High · CVSS 7.1
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/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - Published
- Source
- [NVD] · [CVE record]
- EPSS
- 0.20% · Oct 25, 2026
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.
Vulnerable and fixed packages
Distribution-reported package versions and fixes. These do not depend on matching against the OpenFactory package catalog.
| Distribution | Package | Release | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | python-virtualenv | sid | 21.5.1+ds-1 | not affected |
| Debian | python-virtualenv | forky | 21.5.1+ds-1 | not affected |
| Debian | python-virtualenv | trixie | 20.31.2+ds-1+deb13u1 | not affected |
| Debian | python-virtualenv | bookworm | 20.17.1+ds-1 | not affected |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 14.04 | 1.10.1-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 14.04 | 1.11-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 14.04 | 1.11-2 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 14.04 | 1.11.4-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 14.04 | 1.11.4-1ubuntu1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 1.11.6+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 14.0.5+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 14.0.5+ds-2 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 14.0.5+ds-4 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 15.0.0+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 15.0.0+ds-2 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 15.0.1+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 15.0.1+ds-2 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 15.0.1+ds-3 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 15.0.1+ds-3ubuntu1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 16.04 | 15.0.1+ds-3ubuntu1.1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 18.04 | 15.1.0+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 18.04 | 15.1.0+ds-1.1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | pro | 20.24.1+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | pro | 20.24.6+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | pro | 20.24.6+ds-2 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | pro | 20.25.0+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | pro | 20.25.0+ds-2 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | pro | 20.25.0+ds-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 26.10 | 20.36.1+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 26.10 | 21.4.1+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 26.10 | 21.5.1+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 26.04 | 20.31.2+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 26.04 | 20.35.3+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 26.04 | 20.35.4+ds-1 | vulnerable |
| Ubuntu | python-virtualenv | 26.04 | 20.36.1+ds-1 | vulnerable |
Fixed-version evidence
| Distribution | Package | Type | Release | Fixed version | Urgency | Origin | Bugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | python-virtualenv | source | sid | Not affected | unimportant | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | python-virtualenv | source | forky | Not affected | unimportant | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | python-virtualenv | source | trixie | Not affected | unimportant | Not reported | Not reported |
| Debian | python-virtualenv | source | bookworm | Not affected | unimportant | Not reported | Not reported |
OpenFactory catalog packages
[Debian 12 (Bookworm)]
- [python3-virtualenv]Not affected
Source package: [python-virtualenv]
Details (2)
20.17.1+ds-1· all · bookwormNot affected
dsa · python-virtualenv · debian · bookworm
20.17.1+ds-1· all · bookwormNot affected
dsa · python-virtualenv · debian · bookworm
- [virtualenv]Not affected
Source package: [python-virtualenv]
Details (2)
20.17.1+ds-1· all · bookwormNot affected
dsa · python-virtualenv · debian · bookworm
20.17.1+ds-1· all · bookwormNot affected
dsa · python-virtualenv · debian · bookworm
Observed:
References
- [https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/3598e201f6f044e389136b2347a8a919ac03c5f4]
- [https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3466]
- [https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.13]
- [https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc]
- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-115586]
- [https://osv.dev/vulnerability/UBUNTU-CVE-2026-115586]
- [https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-115586]
- [https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-115586.json]
[Debian Security Tracker] · [FIRST EPSS] · [National Vulnerability Database (NVD)] · [OSV Package Vulnerability Database] · [Red Hat security advisories and VEX]