Medium severity · published Sep 29, 2026
CVE-2026-102938
virtualenv writes prompt values into pyvenv.cfg without sanitizing line boundaries, allowing configuration injection
5.8
CVSS
0.1%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.7.11, PyEnvCfg.write() writes prompt values verbatim to the line-oriented pyvenv.cfg format while PyEnvCfg._read_values() parses the file with str.splitlines() and accepts the last value for duplicate keys. An attacker who influences --prompt, VIRTUALENV_PROMPT, or configuration input can insert a recognized line boundary and additional keys, including home, causing consumers to use an attacker-selected base interpreter or corrupted environment metadata. The security impact requires prompt input from outside the operator's trust boundary; directly supplied prompt content primarily corrupts the operator's own environment. This issue is fixed in version 21.7.11.
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.1% · higher than 4% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
VI
virtualenv · pypa
< 21.7.11 · source: vendor
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-102938
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-102938
x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-9h9j-4vrj-gf7g
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3247
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/a30f995461043acb6cacbf3a890951563ccf7140
x_refsource_MISC
https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.7.11
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