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

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-09-29 20:56 – Updated: 2026-09-29 20:56
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
CWE
  • CWE-78 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
pypa virtualenv Affected: < 21.7.12
guessed Create a notification for this product.
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{
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          "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."
        }
      ],
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            "attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
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            "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",
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            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
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            "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH"
          }
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      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-78",
              "description": "CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (\u0027OS Command Injection\u0027)",
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              "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"
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          "url": "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q"
        },
        {
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          "tags": [
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          "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": "2026-09-29T20:56:13.998Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
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      "date": "2026-09-30",
      "epss": "0.0014",
      "percentile": "0.0279"
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "affected": [
          {
            "affectedData": [
              {
                "product": "virtualenv",
                "vendor": "pypa",
                "versions": [
                  {
                    "status": "affected",
                    "version": "\u003c 21.7.12"
                  }
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            "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
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        ],
        "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": "2026-09-30T19:38:27.293",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV40": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
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                "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
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                "attackRequirements": "PRESENT",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
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                "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",
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                "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
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                "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
              },
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              "type": "Secondary"
            }
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        "published": "2026-09-29T21:17:18.893",
        "references": [
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        "vulnStatus": "Awaiting Analysis",
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              }
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            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
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          }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}



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