---
id: CVE-2026-102937
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, BatchActivator.quote() returns prompt text unchanged before
  activate.bat inserts it into a cmd.exe set "VAR=value" statement. An attacker
  who influ…
severity: high
cvss: 7.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-78
vendor: pypa
product: virtualenv
affected:
  - virtualenv < 21.7.12
published: '2026-09-29'
updated: '2026-09-29'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-29T21:17:18.893'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-102937'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/d721ff140ce4afdc2a9b76751e4584e25d9fbea6
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3250'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/releases/tag/21.7.12'
    label: security-advisories@github.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-x78j-v8h9-3j2q'
    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, 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.

## Remediation

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