CVE-2026-102937 (GCVE-0-2026-102937)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-09-29 20:56 – Updated: 2026-10-02 12:28
VLAI
Title
virtualenv: Command injection via --prompt in activate.bat (batch activator)
Summary
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.7.12, BatchActivator.quote() returns prompt text unchanged before activate.bat inserts it into a cmd.exe set "VAR=value" statement. An attacker who influences --prompt, VIRTUALENV_PROMPT, or the corresponding configuration value can include a double quote that closes the assignment and leaves following cmd.exe operators as executable syntax. When a user activates the generated Windows environment, the injected commands run with that user's privileges. This issue is fixed in version 21.7.12.
Severity
7.3 (High)
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
SSVC
Exploitation: none Automatable: yes Technical Impact: total
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2026-10-02 12:28 UTC
CWE
  • CWE-78 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Assigner
GitHub_M CNA under the mitre root
CNA scorecard C 72/100 over 8129 records in the last 180 days details
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
pypa virtualenv Affected: < 21.7.12
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-102937",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "yes"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-10-02T12:28:00.914294Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-10-02T12:28:15.446Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "virtualenv",
          "vendor": "pypa",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 21.7.12"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.7.12, BatchActivator.quote() returns prompt text unchanged before activate.bat inserts it into a cmd.exe set \"VAR=value\" statement. An attacker who influences --prompt, VIRTUALENV_PROMPT, or the corresponding configuration value can include a double quote that closes the assignment and leaves following cmd.exe operators as executable syntax. When a user activates the generated Windows environment, the injected commands run with that user\u0027s privileges. This issue is fixed in version 21.7.12."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV4_0": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "baseScore": 7.3,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
            "userInteraction": "PASSIVE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
            "version": "4.0",
            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-78",
              "description": "CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (\u0027OS Command Injection\u0027)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-09-29T20:56:13.998Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3250",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3250"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/d721ff140ce4afdc2a9b76751e4584e25d9fbea6",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/d721ff140ce4afdc2a9b76751e4584e25d9fbea6"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.7.12",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.7.12"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "virtualenv: Command injection via --prompt in activate.bat (batch activator)"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-102937",
    "datePublished": "2026-09-29T20:56:13.998Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-09-29T20:24:43.340Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-10-02T12:28:15.446Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2026-102937",
      "date": "2026-10-30",
      "epss": "0.00208",
      "percentile": "0.10946"
    },
    "microsoft_vex": {
      "current_release_date": "2026-10-16T01:49:27.000Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-102937",
      "id": "msrc_CVE-2026-102937",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-10-03T01:36:41.000Z",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "2",
      "source": "Microsoft CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "virtualenv: Command injection via --prompt in activate.bat (batch activator)",
      "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-102937.json",
      "version": "2"
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "affected": [
          {
            "affectedData": [
              {
                "product": "virtualenv",
                "vendor": "pypa",
                "versions": [
                  {
                    "status": "affected",
                    "version": "\u003c 21.7.12"
                  }
                ]
              }
            ],
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
          }
        ],
        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.7.12, BatchActivator.quote() returns prompt text unchanged before activate.bat inserts it into a cmd.exe set \"VAR=value\" statement. An attacker who influences --prompt, VIRTUALENV_PROMPT, or the corresponding configuration value can include a double quote that closes the assignment and leaves following cmd.exe operators as executable syntax. When a user activates the generated Windows environment, the injected commands run with that user\u0027s privileges. This issue is fixed in version 21.7.12."
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2026-102937",
        "lastModified": "2026-10-02T13:17:35.440",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV40": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "baseScore": 7.3,
                "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
                "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
                "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
                "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
                "userInteraction": "PASSIVE",
                "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/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",
                "version": "4.0",
                "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH",
                "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
              },
              "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
              "type": "Secondary"
            }
          ],
          "ssvcV203": [
            {
              "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "ssvcData": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-102937",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "automatable": "yes"
                  },
                  {
                    "technicalImpact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-10-02T12:28:00.914294Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2026-09-29T21:17:18.893",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/d721ff140ce4afdc2a9b76751e4584e25d9fbea6"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3250"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.7.12"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com",
        "vulnStatus": "Awaiting Analysis",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-78"
              }
            ],
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "type": "Secondary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Important",
      "current_release_date": "2026-10-30T05:42:23+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-102937",
      "id": "CVE-2026-102937",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-09-29T20:56:13.998000+00:00",
      "product_status:fixed": "44",
      "product_status:known_affected": "26",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "1049",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "virtualenv: virtualenv: Arbitrary code execution via unescaped prompt in Windows activation script",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-102937.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "vulnrichment": {
      "containers": {
        "adp": [
          {
            "metrics": [
              {
                "other": {
                  "content": {
                    "id": "CVE-2026-102937",
                    "options": [
                      {
                        "Exploitation": "none"
                      },
                      {
                        "Automatable": "yes"
                      },
                      {
                        "Technical Impact": "total"
                      }
                    ],
                    "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                    "timestamp": "2026-10-02T12:28:00.914294Z",
                    "version": "2.0.3"
                  },
                  "type": "ssvc"
                }
              }
            ],
            "providerMetadata": {
              "dateUpdated": "2026-10-02T12:28:08.381Z",
              "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
            },
            "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
          }
        ],
        "cna": {
          "affected": [
            {
              "product": "virtualenv",
              "vendor": "pypa",
              "versions": [
                {
                  "status": "affected",
                  "version": "\u003c 21.7.12"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.7.12, BatchActivator.quote() returns prompt text unchanged before activate.bat inserts it into a cmd.exe set \"VAR=value\" statement. An attacker who influences --prompt, VIRTUALENV_PROMPT, or the corresponding configuration value can include a double quote that closes the assignment and leaves following cmd.exe operators as executable syntax. When a user activates the generated Windows environment, the injected commands run with that user\u0027s privileges. This issue is fixed in version 21.7.12."
            }
          ],
          "metrics": [
            {
              "cvssV4_0": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "baseScore": 7.3,
                "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
                "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
                "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
                "userInteraction": "PASSIVE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
                "version": "4.0",
                "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH"
              }
            }
          ],
          "problemTypes": [
            {
              "descriptions": [
                {
                  "cweId": "CWE-78",
                  "description": "CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (\u0027OS Command Injection\u0027)",
                  "lang": "en",
                  "type": "CWE"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "providerMetadata": {
            "dateUpdated": "2026-09-29T20:56:13.998Z",
            "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
            "shortName": "GitHub_M"
          },
          "references": [
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3250",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3250"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/d721ff140ce4afdc2a9b76751e4584e25d9fbea6",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/d721ff140ce4afdc2a9b76751e4584e25d9fbea6"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.7.12",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.7.12"
            }
          ],
          "source": {
            "advisory": "GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q",
            "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
          },
          "title": "virtualenv: Command injection via --prompt in activate.bat (batch activator)"
        }
      },
      "cveMetadata": {
        "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
        "cveId": "CVE-2026-102937",
        "datePublished": "2026-09-29T20:56:13.998Z",
        "dateReserved": "2026-09-29T20:24:43.340Z",
        "dateUpdated": "2026-10-02T12:28:15.446Z",
        "state": "PUBLISHED"
      },
      "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
      "dataVersion": "5.2"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.




Drag nodes to arrange them. Double-click a related vulnerability to open it, or a source to visit its link. The Physics button on the left tunes the layout and the simulation; the legend at the bottom left hides or shows nodes by kind and by sighting type.

Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Vulnerability timeline

Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC

JSON

Loading timeline…




    Related by attack behaviour

    Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.