GitHub Advisoryadvisory · PyPI

GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q virtualenv: Command injection via --prompt in activate.bat (batch activator)

HIGH Published 2026-10-01 Modified 2026-10-01 Official page ↗
Aliases
CVE-2026-102937
Ecosystem
PyPI
Packages
virtualenv
Severity
High
CVSS vector
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
Weaknesses
CWE-78
Reviewed
2026-10-01

Affected packages

• PyPI virtualenv: < 21.7.12 → fixed in 21.7.12

Description

`BatchActivator.quote()` returned its input unchanged, the only activator with no escaping at all. `--prompt`, the `VIRTUALENV_PROMPT` environment variable, and the config file all set the prompt, and `activate.bat` writes it straight into `@set "VAR=value"`. A prompt containing a double quote closes that string early, and whatever follows runs as live cmd.exe syntax: ```console $ virtualenv --prompt 'x" & calc & "' venv $ venv\Scripts\activate.bat ``` runs `calc` the moment someone activates the environment. Confirmed on a real Windows runner. Anyone who templates a prompt from untrusted input (a CI job using a branch name, a wrapper script deriving an environment name from user input) hands an attacker code execution in the shell of anyone who activates the resulting venv on Windows. Fixed in 21.7.12 by escaping the characters cmd.exe treats as live syntax inside this construct. Fix: https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3250

Related

Alias · CVE (1)

  • CVE-2026-102937 virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. vulnerability

Weakness · CWE (1)

  • CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command weakness

References