CVE-2026-113726

virtualenv activate runs commands from the environment name in zsh with PROMPT_SUBST

State
Published
Severity
7.8 High
Published
Oct 20, 2026
Updated
Oct 27, 2026
Reserved
Oct 20, 2026

Read the record on cve.org

Description

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.13.0, 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.

Scores

CVSSScoreVectorSource
3.17.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HGitHub_M

Weaknesses

  • CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
  • CWE-116 Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output

Affected Products

ProductVersions
virtualenvpypa
  • < 21.14.4Affected

References

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