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Medium

virtualenv: Generated files can follow existing destination links

Type: advisorySources: Official CVE List

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, ViaTemplateActivator._generate() removes an existing output only when Path.exists() is true, allowing a dangling symlink to survive and redirect generated activation content, while PyEnvCfg.write() opens pyvenv.cfg without first replacing an existing symbolic or hard link. Another local account that prepares final entries inside the destination can therefore cause environment creation to create or overwrite files outside the requested tree with constrained virtualenv-generated content and the invoking user's permissions. The destination parent must remain controlled by the environment owner during creation; concurrent parent-directory replacement is a separate concern. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.

Products
virtualenv
Affected versions
Not specified
Fixed versions
Not specified
CVEs
CVE-2026-113721
Confirmed fixed CVEs
Not specified
Updated in this feed
1 Nov 2026, 17:43 UTC · Revision 2

Source evidence

virtualenv: Generated files can follow existing destination links

core-cve · Original source

Published 20 Oct 2026, 19:46 UTC

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, ViaTemplateActivator._generate() removes an existing output only when Path.exists() is true, allowing a dangling symlink to survive and redirect generated activation content, while PyEnvCfg.write() opens pyvenv.cfg without first replacing an existing symbolic or hard link. Another local account that prepares final entries inside the destination can therefore cause environment creation to create or overwrite files outside the requested tree with constrained virtualenv-generated content and the invoking user's permissions. The destination parent must remain controlled by the environment owner during creation; concurrent parent-directory replacement is a separate concern. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.

cve:CVE-2026-113721

virtualenv

Fixed versions: Not specified

Complete source record
{
  "id": "74b31d1663686a0604ff93fbd136a1b582e800563cfabc6849b193143c39861b",
  "url": "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-113721",
  "method": "structured",
  "payload": {
    "kind": "advisory",
    "title": "virtualenv: Generated files can follow existing destination links",
    "summary": "virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, ViaTemplateActivator._generate() removes an existing output only when Path.exists() is true, allowing a dangling symlink to survive and redirect generated activation content, while PyEnvCfg.write() opens pyvenv.cfg without first replacing an existing symbolic or hard link. Another local account that prepares final entries inside the destination can therefore cause environment creation to create or overwrite files outside the requested tree with constrained virtualenv-generated content and the invoking user's permissions. The destination parent must remain controlled by the environment owner during creation; concurrent parent-directory replacement is a separate concern. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.",
    "evidence": "cve:CVE-2026-113721",
    "products": [
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "virtualenv",
          "evidence": "/containers/cna/affected/0/product"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": []
      }
    ],
    "severity": "medium",
    "structured": {
      "id": "CVE-2026-113721",
      "aliases": [
        "CVE-2026-113721"
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "scope": "UNCHANGED",
            "version": "3.1",
            "baseScore": 4.5,
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
            "integrityImpact": "LOW",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
            "availabilityImpact": "LOW",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "confidentialityImpact": "LOW"
          }
        }
      ],
      "affected": [
        {
          "vendor": "pypa",
          "product": "virtualenv",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "< 21.14.9"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "modified": "2026-10-28T16:41:59.056Z",
      "provider": "cve",
      "references": [
        "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-558c-9hv2-4prj",
        "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3431",
        "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/d25f28699eefb1fc34a251e5adf2b5de844c36cd",
        "https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.9"
      ],
      "provider_metadata": {
        "adp": [
          {
            "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment",
            "metrics": [
              {
                "other": {
                  "type": "ssvc",
                  "content": {
                    "id": "CVE-2026-113721",
                    "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                    "options": [
                      {
                        "Exploitation": "none"
                      },
                      {
                        "Automatable": "no"
                      },
                      {
                        "Technical Impact": "partial"
                      }
                    ],
                    "version": "2.0.3",
                    "timestamp": "2026-10-28T16:41:41.590636Z"
                  }
                }
              }
            ],
            "providerMetadata": {
              "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "shortName": "CISA-ADP",
              "dateUpdated": "2026-10-28T16:41:59.056Z"
            }
          }
        ],
        "cna": {
          "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
          "shortName": "GitHub_M",
          "dateUpdated": "2026-10-20T19:46:28.770Z"
        }
      }
    },
    "related_cves": [
      {
        "value": "CVE-2026-113721",
        "evidence": "/cveMetadata/cveId"
      }
    ],
    "security_relevant": true,
    "severity_evidence": "/containers/cna/metrics"
  },
  "source_id": "core-cve",
  "document_id": 461054,
  "published_at": "2026-10-20T19:46:28.77+00:00"
}