virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to version 20.36.1, TOCTOU (Time-of-Check-Time-of-Use) vulnerabilities in virtualenv allow local attackers to perform symlink-based attacks on directory creation operations. An attacker with local access can exploit a race condition between directory existence checks and creation to redirect virtualenv's app_data and lock file operations to attacker-controlled locations. This issue has been patched in version 20.36.1.
Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-597g-3phw-6986 virtualenv Has TOCTOU Vulnerabilities in Directory Creation
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Virtualenv
Virtualenv virtualenv
Vendors & Products Virtualenv
Virtualenv virtualenv

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Sat, 10 Jan 2026 06:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated virtual python environments. Prior to version 20.36.1, TOCTOU (Time-of-Check-Time-of-Use) vulnerabilities in virtualenv allow local attackers to perform symlink-based attacks on directory creation operations. An attacker with local access can exploit a race condition between directory existence checks and creation to redirect virtualenv's app_data and lock file operations to attacker-controlled locations. This issue has been patched in version 20.36.1.
Title virtualenv Has TOCTOU Vulnerabilities in Directory Creation
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-59
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L'}


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-01-12T16:44:12.734Z

Reserved: 2026-01-08T19:23:09.857Z

Link: CVE-2026-22702

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-01-12T16:44:09.679Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-01-10T07:16:02.857

Modified: 2026-01-13T14:03:18.990

Link: CVE-2026-22702

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-01-10T06:05:53Z

Links: CVE-2026-22702 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-01-12T14:36:19Z

Weaknesses