Patch Forecast
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CVE-2026-113732 · GHSA-c947-3pg5-gm8q

virtualenv activate.fish runs commands from a path or prompt with a backslash before a quote

Risk score
54/100
CVSS
7.8 v3.1
Exploit chance (30 days)
0.2%
Published
20 Oct 2026

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What to know

What it is
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.2, FishActivator inherits ViaTemplateActivator.quote(), which uses POSIX shlex.quote() even though fish interprets backslashes and single quotes differently. An attacker-influenced environment path, --prompt, or VIRTUALENV_PROMPT va…
Affected
virtualenv (pip) <= 21.14.1
Fix
Upgrade virtualenv to 21.14.2 or later.
Exploitation
No known exploitation

Story map

Story map: virtualenvTHE FLAWSTHE FIXCVE-2026-113732Virtualenv activate.fish runscommands from a path orprompt with a backslash…CVSS 7.8 · EPSS 0%CVE-2026-113725Virtualenv bash activate runscommands from anenvironment name with a…CVSS 7.8 · EPSS 0%CVE-2026-102930Downloaded seed wheels(pip/setuptools) are notintegrity-checked before useCVSS 7.7 · EPSS 0%CVE-2026-113722Generated POSIX consolelaunchers interpret destinationpaths as shell syntaxCVSS 7.8 · EPSS 0%Upgrade virtualenv21.14.2 · 21.14.7 · 21.7.12 · 21.14.9or later on your release lineWho is exposedvirtualenv (pip) <= 21.14.6YELLOW · PLAN IT INvirtualenvvirtualenv is a tool for creatingisolated virtual pythonenvironments. Prior to 21.14.7,the bash activate script escapesthe environment name for onlyone of the two passes bashmakes over PS1, so a backslash…Where it standsPublic proof of conceptCONNECTS TOSame weaknessOS command injection (CWE-78)306 other warnings in 30 days →
Story map: the flaws, the fix, how it unfolded and what it connects to. Boxes link to the record or article.

At a glance

virtualenv: Yellow, plan it in. virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.7, the bash activate script escapes the environment name for only one of the two passes bash makes over PS1, so a backslash in the name undoes the escaping and a name containing \$(...) runs as commands in the user's shell each time…

The flaws

  • CVE-2026-113732: Virtualenv activate.fish runs commands from a path or prompt with a backslash before a quote (CVSS 7.8 · EPSS 0%)
  • CVE-2026-113725: Virtualenv bash activate runs commands from an environment name with a backslash before $ (CVSS 7.8 · EPSS 0%)
  • CVE-2026-102930: Downloaded seed wheels (pip/setuptools) are not integrity-checked before use (CVSS 7.7 · EPSS 0%)
  • CVE-2026-113722: Generated POSIX console launchers interpret destination paths as shell syntax (CVSS 7.8 · EPSS 0%)

The fix

Upgrade virtualenv: 21.14.2 · 21.14.7 · 21.7.12 · 21.14.9 or later on your release line

Who is exposed: virtualenv (pip) <= 21.14.6

Where it stands

  • Public proof of concept

Connects to

Why it is Yellow

  • CVSS 7.8 high
  • On your watchlist: PyPI

Affected packages

PackageEcosystemVulnerableFixed in
virtualenvpip<= 21.14.121.14.2

References

Original description

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.2, FishActivator inherits ViaTemplateActivator.quote(), which uses POSIX shlex.quote() even though fish interprets backslashes and single quotes differently. An attacker-influenced environment path, --prompt, or VIRTUALENV_PROMPT value containing a backslash before a quote can therefore terminate the generated fish literal and execute command substitution when the user sources activate.fish. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.2.

Last activity 20 Oct 2026. Patch Forecast updates every hour.