CVE-2026-113716

virtualenv: Builtin creation follows linked environment directories

State
Published
Severity
4.5 Medium
Published
Oct 20, 2026
Updated
Oct 21, 2026
Reserved
Oct 20, 2026

Read the record on cve.org

Description

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, the builtin creator calls ensure_dir() for executable, library, and package directories, and ensure_dir() accepts an existing symlink to a directory because exists() follows it. Interpreter creation, seed installation, and activation generation then write through the linked parent outside the requested destination when another local account prepared the tree and the invoking user can access the target. The --clear option removes the planted tree first, while ordinary creation reaches it; arbitrary attacker-selected output bytes are not established. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.

Scores

CVSSScoreVectorSource
3.14.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:LGitHub_M

Weaknesses

  • CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

Affected Products

ProductVersions
virtualenvpypa
  • < 21.14.9Affected

References

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