CVE-2020-11073Public exploit

Code execution via unvalidated virtualenv activation path

Published May 13, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Command injection in Michael Aquilina zsh-autoswitch-virtualenv before 0.16.0 allows local users to execute code via a malicious .venv file. The _maybeworkon function trusts the path named in .venv and sources its bin/activate script into the current Zsh session without rejecting path traversal. Exploitation requires entry into an attacker-controlled directory, after which the script runs with the local user's shell privileges without an additional prompt.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Michael Aquilina zsh-autoswitch-virtualenv before 0.16.0 allows local users to execute code via a malicious .venv file. The _maybeworkon function trusts the path named in .venv and sources its bin/activate script into the current Zsh session without rejecting path traversal. Exploitation requires entry into an attacker-controlled directory, after which the script runs with the local user's shell privileges without an additional prompt.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-11073
Published
May 13, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Michael Aquilina
Product
zsh-autoswitch-virtualenv
Classifications
CWE-77, CWE-22, T1059.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 13, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 0.16.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Michael Aquilina · zsh-autoswitch-virtualenvversion=< 0.16.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.9GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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