virtualenv: Builtin creation follows linked environment directories (pypa virtualenv)
At a glance
- Source
- NVD
- EPSS
- EPSS 0.14 % · percentile 4 ()
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Updated
- Assigner
- GitHub_M
- NVD status
- Awaiting Analysis
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.
Weaknesses (CWE)
- CWE-59 — Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
References
Scores
| Version | Score | Vector | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM 4.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L | GitHub_M |
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM 4.5 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L | NVD · security-advisories@github.com (Secondary) |
Advisories
- GHSA-cw65-gx24-rc82 — virtualenv: Builtin creation follows linked environment directories
European references
- ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-105297
- GCVE · GCVE-0-2026-113716
Affected products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| pypa · virtualenv | affected < 21.14.9 |
Sources
| Source | Licence |
|---|---|
| CVE List (CVEProject cvelistV5) | CVE Program Terms of Use |
| EPSS (FIRST.org) | FIRST — attribution requested |
| ENISA EUVD | ENISA — reproduction authorised, source acknowledged |
| NVD (NIST) via fkie-cad/nvd-json-data-feeds | Public domain — this product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD |