Vulnerability-Lookup

Vulnerability from bitnami_vulndb

Published

2026-10-29 09:00

Modified

2026-10-29 09:16

Summary

virtualenv: Bash activator leaves the --prompt value unescaped in PS1 when promptvars is off, so prompt expansion later executes it (regression in 21.14.9)

Details

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.

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "affected": [
    {
      "package": {
        "ecosystem": "Bitnami",
        "name": "virtualenv",
        "purl": "pkg:bitnami/virtualenv"
      },
      "ranges": [
        {
          "events": [
            {
              "introduced": "21.14.9"
            },
            {
              "fixed": "21.14.13"
            }
          ],
          "type": "SEMVER"
        }
      ],
      "severity": [
        {
          "score": "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",
          "type": "CVSS_V4"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "aliases": [
    "CVE-2026-115586"
  ],
  "database_specific": {
    "cpes": [
      "cpe:2.3:a:virtualenv:virtualenv:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:*"
    ],
    "severity": "High"
  },
  "details": "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.",
  "id": "BIT-virtualenv-2026-115586",
  "modified": "2026-10-29T09:16:42.832Z",
  "published": "2026-10-29T09:00:47.839Z",
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/3598e201f6f044e389136b2347a8a919ac03c5f4"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3466"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.13"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc"
    },
    {
      "type": "WEB",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-115586"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "1.6.2",
  "summary": "virtualenv: Bash activator leaves the --prompt value unescaped in PS1 when promptvars is off, so prompt expansion later executes it (regression in 21.14.9)"
}

CVE-2026-115586 (GCVE-0-2026-115586)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-10-23 19:34 – Updated: 2026-10-23 20:55

Title

virtualenv: Bash activator leaves the --prompt value unescaped in PS1 when promptvars is off, so prompt expansion later executes it (regression in 21.14.9)

Summary

Severity

7.1 (High)


                        
                          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

SSVC

Exploitation: none Automatable: no Technical Impact: total

CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)

Decision recorded 2026-10-23 20:45 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 8083 records in the last 180 days details

References

4 references

URL	Tags
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advis…	x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3466	x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/3598e20…	x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/2…	x_refsource_MISC

Impacted products

1 product

Vendor	Product	Version
pypa	virtualenv	Affected: >= 21.14.9, < 21.14.13

Show details on NVD website

JSON

To clipboard

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-115586",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-10-23T20:45:48.701499Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-10-23T20:55:42.764Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "virtualenv",
          "vendor": "pypa",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003e= 21.14.9, \u003c 21.14.13"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "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."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV4_0": {
            "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
            "attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "baseScore": 7.1,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
            "userInteraction": "ACTIVE",
            "vectorString": "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",
            "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": "2026-10-23T19:34:46.391Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3466",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3466"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/3598e201f6f044e389136b2347a8a919ac03c5f4",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/3598e201f6f044e389136b2347a8a919ac03c5f4"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.13",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.13"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-cx6f-vjhg-g3cc",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "virtualenv: Bash activator leaves the --prompt value unescaped in PS1 when promptvars is off, so prompt expansion later executes it (regression in 21.14.9)"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-115586",
    "datePublished": "2026-10-23T19:34:46.391Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-10-22T22:53:15.239Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-10-23T20:55:42.764Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2"
}

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

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The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base model, served locally by ML-Gateway. They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.

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.

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