# CVE-2026-113714: virtualenv wheel cache verification bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113714-virtualenv-is-a-tool-for-creating-isolated-virtual-python  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-20. Updated: 2026-10-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-113714 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-10-20

virtualenv is a tool for creating isolated Python environments. A flaw in versions 21.14.8 through 21.14.9 allowed attackers controlling a package index to inject malicious wheels into the local cache by bypassing digest verification. An attacker with control over package downloads or a compromised index could serve a malicious package that would be cached and reused in future environment creation, potentially executing arbitrary code.

Technologies: [Pypa Virtualenv](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypa-virtualenv), [virtualenv (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/virtualenv). Vendors: [Pypa](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypa), [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-113714 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-113714 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-113714?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 20 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Pypa Virtualenv 21.14.8 to 21.14.9; virtualenv (PyPI) < 21.14.9, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=21.14.9.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-113714?** Yes. virtualenv (PyPI): upgrade to 21.14.9 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-113714 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-113714?** Check whether you run Pypa Virtualenv or 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 21.14.9 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "virtualenv>=21.14.9"
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability exists in download_wheel(), which wrote packages directly into the reusable wheel cache before verifying their digest. An attacker controlling a package index could inject a misleading package-index line through a malformed link's data-requires-python attribute, or place a rejected archive in the cache for later selection without verification. The fix moves downloads to a private staging directory, verifies digest and Requires-Python constraints before moving into the house cache, and uses renamed atomic operations to prevent cache poisoning.

## Affected products

- pypa virtualenv 21.14.8 to 21.14.9

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-113714
- GHSA-494p-63j8-28p3

## Timeline

- 2026-10-20: disclosed

## References

- [https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/7babec66e043e1cc8bc66869a063653898719d96](https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/7babec66e043e1cc8bc66869a063653898719d96)
- [https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3430](https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3430)

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- [virtualenv bash activate script command injection in PS1](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113725-virtualenv-is-a-tool-for-creating-isolated-virtual-python)