CVE-2024-53899Public exploit

Command execution via unquoted activation templates

Published Nov 24, 2024 · Updated Nov 24, 2024

Command injection in Python Packaging Authority virtualenv before 20.26.6 allows local users to execute shell commands through crafted environment paths. ViaTemplateActivator replaces magic strings in generated activation scripts without applying the destination shell's quoting rules. Execution requires creating an environment at an attacker-controlled path and sourcing its activation script; commands run with the activating user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.57%
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 Python Packaging Authority virtualenv before 20.26.6 allows local users to execute shell commands through crafted environment paths. ViaTemplateActivator replaces magic strings in generated activation scripts without applying the destination shell's quoting rules. Execution requires creating an environment at an attacker-controlled path and sourcing its activation script; commands run with the activating user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-53899
Published
Nov 24, 2024
Updated
Nov 24, 2024
Vendor
Python Packaging Authority
Product
virtualenv
Classifications
CWE-78, CWE-77, T1059
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 24, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 24, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <20.26.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Python Packaging Authority · virtualenvversion=0 <20.26.6

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.4CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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