CVE-2026-113725

virtualenv bash activate runs commands from an environment name with a backslash before $

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 bash draws the prompt. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.7.

Affected

pypa · virtualenv

CVSS v3.1 GITHUB

7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS

0.26% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, 18th percentile

Published

2026-10-20

Updated

2026-10-21

Proof-of-concept exploits (1)

• advisories/GHSA-vxj4-q4g9-crj7snapshot

CVE references

• pypa/virtualenv/commit/c3104e02474b652832a9bbaae79f6e1696296932REFERENCE
• pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.14.7REFERENCE
• pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-vxj4-q4g9-crj7REFERENCE

References

• CVE Record
• NVD entry