---
id: CVE-2026-102930
title: virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments
summary: >-
  virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior
  to 21.7.12, download_wheel() accepts pip and setuptools seed wheels fetched
  for periodic updates or the --download option without checking their bytes
  against …
severity: high
cvss: 7.7
cvssVector: 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-494
vendor: pypa
product: virtualenv
affected:
  - virtualenv < 21.7.12
published: '2026-09-29'
updated: '2026-09-29'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-29T21:17:18.740'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-102930'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/a01ed3e2f239d6ab1fce62c5c7664ccf268fff6d
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3251'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-94p9-xgh2-xp45'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
cvssSource: cna
ingestedAt: '2026-09-29T21:49:08.216Z'
---

## Overview

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to 21.7.12, download_wheel() accepts pip and setuptools seed wheels fetched for periodic updates or the --download option without checking their bytes against an authoritative digest equivalent to the embedded wheels' BUNDLE_SHA256 verification. A compromised index, stale mirror, or intercepted TLS connection can substitute a different wheel under the requested distribution, version, and filename, after which virtualenv caches and seeds the attacker-controlled wheel into subsequently created environments. The verification applies to the default PyPI path and is intentionally skipped when PIP_INDEX_URL, PIP_EXTRA_INDEX_URL, or PIP_INDEX configures a custom index that may legitimately publish rebuilt wheels. This issue is fixed in version 21.7.12.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.