Vulnerability in Pypa Virtualenv

CVE-2026-113716

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.

Published · last modified .

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 4.5 (Medium). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L.

EPSS exploit prediction

No EPSS score from FIRST.org yet. New CVEs usually get one within a few days; no score means no signal yet, not low risk. How EPSS works.

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-113716?
CVE-2026-113716 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Pypa Virtualenv, classified under Improper Link Resolution Before File Access. CVSS score: 4.5/10. Published 2026-10-20.
How severe is CVE-2026-113716?
Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 4.5 out of 10.