CVE-2026-113716
virtualenv: Builtin creation follows linked environment directories
Reported by github_m · Published October 20, 2026
virtualenv is fixed in 21.14.9 (PyPI)
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.
Fixed versions
Upgrade to a fixed version or later. Language registries are listed first, then Linux distributions, then vendor products.
| Package | Ecosystem | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| virtualenv | PyPI | 21.14.9 |
| openstack-rally-2025.2 | Chainguard | 4.1.0-r5 |
Risk scores
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| pypa | virtualenv | < 21.14.9 |
| PyPI | virtualenv | 0 |
| chainguard | openstack-rally-2025.2 | 0 |
| pypa | virtualenv | 0 |
| wolfi | py3-cassandra-medusa | 0 |
| chainguard | openstack-rally-2026.1 | 0 |
| chainguard | py3-cassandra-medusa | 0 |
| pypa | virtualenv | |
| chainguard | request-1276 | 0 |
Timeline
- Oct 20, 2026 CVE Published
- Oct 21, 2026 EPSS Score (2 in total, the first dated here)
- Oct 21, 2026 CVE Updated
- Oct 31, 2026 Security Advisory
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References
- https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-cw65-gx24-rc82 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3429 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/554d9f9d4f7758f5cf53f993031e29787f1f74c5 x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.9 x_refsource_MISC
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113716 advisory
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-cw65-gx24-rc82 advisory