pypa virtualenv up to 21.7.11 BatchActivator activate.bat BatchActivator.quote prompt/VIRTUALENV_PROMPT os command injection

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in pypa virtualenv up to 21.7.11. Impacted is the function BatchActivator.quote of the file activate.bat of the component BatchActivator. Executing a manipulation of the argument prompt/VIRTUALENV_PROMPT can lead to os command injection. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-102937. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in pypa virtualenv up to 21.7.11 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function BatchActivator.quote of the file activate.bat of the component BatchActivator. The manipulation of the argument prompt/VIRTUALENV_PROMPT with an unknown input leads to a os command injection vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-78. The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.7.12, BatchActivator.quote() returns prompt text unchanged before activate.bat inserts it into a cmd.exe set "VAR=value" statement. An attacker who influences --prompt, VIRTUALENV_PROMPT, or the corresponding configuration value can include a double quote that closes the assignment and leaves following cmd.exe operators as executable syntax. When a user activates the generated Windows environment, the injected commands run with that user's privileges. This issue is fixed in version 21.7.12.

The advisory is available at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-102937 since 09/29/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1202 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 21.7.12 eliminates this vulnerability.

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Productinfo

Vendor

• pypa

Name

• virtualenv

Version

• 21.7.0
• 21.7.1
• 21.7.2
• 21.7.3
• 21.7.4
• 21.7.5
• 21.7.6
• 21.7.7
• 21.7.8
• 21.7.9
• 21.7.10
• 21.7.11

Website

• Product: https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/

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