CVE-2026-113714
virtualenv: Downloaded wheel selection and caching precede verification
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, download_wheel() writes package-index downloads directly into the reusable wheel/house cache before selecting a verification target from pip's textual Saved output. With default-index digest comparison enabled, a controlled package index can inject a misleading Saved line through a discarded link's data-requires-python attribute; this forged-line variant also requires knowledge of an absolute path to the genuine bundled wheel. The wrong path can then be hashed, while a digest mismatch leaves the rejected archive in the cache for later selection without verification. A separate rejected-cache-file variant requires control over downloaded data or archive selection but not the forged-line prerequisites. Explicit custom-index exceptions are outside the promised PyPI comparison, and the issue does not independently bypass TLS or establish control of default PyPI. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.
- Affected
- pypa · virtualenv
- CVSS v4.0 GITHUB
- 2.3 LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS v4.0 GitHub
- 2.3 LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - EPSS
- 0.25% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, 16th percentile
- Published
- 2026-10-20
- Updated
- 2026-10-27
Proof-of-concept exploits (1)
CVE references
- pypa/virtualenv/commit/7babec66e043e1cc8bc66869a063653898719d96REFERENCE
- pypa/virtualenv/pull/3430REFERENCE
- pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.9REFERENCE
- pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-494p-63j8-28p3REFERENCE