CVE-2026-113718
published 2026-10-20CVE-2026-113718: virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, POSIX xonsh activation quote() uses repr() to write printable…
PriorityP431high7.1CVSS 4.0
AVLACHATPPRNUIAVCHVIHVAHSCNSINSANEXCRXIRXARXMAVXMACXMATXMPRXMUIXMVCXMVIXMVAXMSCXMSIXMSAXSXAUXRXVXREXUX
EPSS
0.18%
7.3th percentile
virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.14.9, POSIX xonsh activation quote() uses repr() to write printable non-ASCII prompt or destination data into UTF-8 activate.xsh, while xonsh can read that script using $XONSH_ENCODING. Under a legacy multibyte codec such as GBK or Big5, a UTF-8 trail byte can consume the backslash before an adjacent quote, allowing the literal to close and attacker-influenced statements to execute when the user sources the generated script. This issue is fixed in version 21.14.9.
Affected
25 ranges
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| ansible-automation-platform-26 | controller-rhel9 | — | — |
| ansible-automation-platform-26 | eda-controller-rhel9 | — | — |
| ansible-automation-platform-26 | lightspeed-chatbot-rhel9 | — | — |
| ansible-automation-platform-27 | controller-rhel9 | — | — |
| ansible-automation-platform-27 | eda-controller-rhel9 | — | — |
| debian | python-virtualenv | — | — |
| devspaces | udi-rhel9 | — | — |
| openshift-lightspeed | lightspeed-service-api-rhel9 | — | — |
| pypa | virtualenv | < 21.14.9 | 21.14.9 |
| rhai-early-access | docling-serve-cuda-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-feature-server-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-kserve-agent-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-kserve-controller-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-kserve-router-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-kserve-storage-initializer-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-ta-lmes-job-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-training-rocm64-torch28-py312-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-trustyai-nemo-guardrails-server-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-workbench-codeserver-datascience-cpu-py312-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-workbench-jupyter-datascience-cpu-py312-rhel9 | — | — |
| rhoai | odh-workbench-jupyter-pytorch-llmcompressor-cuda-py312-rhel9 | — | — |
| satellite | iop-advisor-backend-rhel9 | — | — |
| satellite | iop-host-inventory-rhel9 | — | — |
| satellite | iop-yuptoo-rhel9 | — | — |
| virtualenv | virtualenv | >= 0 < 21.14.9 | 21.14.9 |
CVSS provenance
nvdv4.07.1HIGHCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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
vendor_redhat7.1HIGH
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Red Hat
virtualenv: virtualenv: arbitrary code execution via improper quoting in xonsh activation scripts
vendor_redhat·2026-10-20·CVSS 7.1
CVE-2026-113718 [HIGH] CWE-94 virtualenv: virtualenv: arbitrary code execution via improper quoting in xonsh activation scripts
virtualenv: virtualenv: arbitrary code execution via improper quoting in xonsh activation scripts
A flaw was found in virtualenv. This vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution when a user sources a generated xonsh activation script. Under certain multibyte character encodings, improper quoting of non-ASCII directory paths or prompt strings allows quote boundaries to be broken. Consequently, an attacker who influences these path or prompt values can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user activating the environment.
Mitigation: --- CME Mitigation Guidance (2026-10-20) ---
Disclaimer: The following mitigation solutions are provided as a courtesy, pending the application of an official patch. This content was generated utilizing AI tools in conjunction with da
GHSA
virtualenv: Xonsh activation literals depend on the script decoding codec
ghsa·2026-10-23
CVE-2026-113718 [HIGH] CWE-94 virtualenv: Xonsh activation literals depend on the script decoding codec
virtualenv: Xonsh activation literals depend on the script decoding codec
## Summary
Caller-supplied prompt text can become executable syntax in the xonsh activation script. An attacker must influence the
value passed to virtualenv, and a user must subsequently activate the environment.
## Affected area
Xonsh reads a UTF-8 activation script using a legacy multibyte encoding such as GBK. Printable non-ASCII bytes can
change how the reader recognizes an adjacent quote. The report concerns POSIX activation. It does not establish exposure
through unrelated activators.
## Attacker-controlled input
The attacker controls prompt or destination data passed as a virtualenv argument. The user later sources the generated
activation script.
## Affected code
The relevant 21.14.8 source is in
[xo
No detection rules found.
No public exploits indexed.
2026-10-20
Published