# CVE-2024-53899: virtualenv allows command injection through activation scripts for a virtual environment

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-53899-virtualenv-allows-command-injection-through-activation-scripts  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2024-11-24  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2024-53899 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2024-11-24

virtualenv before 20.26.6 allows command injection through the activation scripts for a virtual environment. Magic template strings are not quoted correctly when replacing. NOTE: this is not the same as CVE-2024-9287.

Technologies: [virtualenv (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/virtualenv). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2024-53899 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2024-53899 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2024-53899?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 24 November 2024.

**Which products and versions are affected?** virtualenv (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=20.26.6.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2024-53899?** Yes. virtualenv (PyPI): upgrade to 20.26.6 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**Am I affected by CVE-2024-53899?** Check whether you run virtualenv (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- virtualenv (PyPI): upgrade to 20.26.6 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "virtualenv>=20.26.6"
  ```


## Affected products

- virtualenv (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=20.26.6

## Identifiers

- CVE-2024-53899
- GHSA-rqc4-2hc7-8c8v
- PYSEC-2024-187

## Related threats

- [virtualenv bash activate command injection via unescaped prompt](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115586-virtualenv-is-a-tool-for-creating-isolated-virtual-python)
- [virtualenv command injection in activation script template substitution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113776-virtualenv-is-a-tool-for-creating-isolated-virtual-python)
- [virtualenv command injection in Fish shell activation script](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113732-virtualenv-is-a-tool-for-creating-isolated-virtual-python)
- [pypa virtualenv command injection in bash activate script](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113726-virtualenv-is-a-tool-for-creating-isolated-virtual-python)
- [virtualenv bash activate script command injection in PS1](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113725-virtualenv-is-a-tool-for-creating-isolated-virtual-python)