{"id":"CVE-2026-22702","title":"virtualenv: virtualenv: Local attacker can redirect file operations via TOCTOU race condition (CVE-2026-22702)","summary":"A flaw was found in virtualenv, a tool for creating isolated virtual Python environments. A local attacker can exploit a Time-of-Check-Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race condition during directory creation operations. By performing symlink-based at…","severity":"medium","cvss":4.5,"cvssVector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L","cvssSource":"vendor","cwe":"CWE-59","vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)","affected":["openshift_lightspeed","openshift_service_mesh 2","ansible_automation_platform 2","enterprise_linux 8","openshift_ai_rhoai","openshift_dev_spaces","satellite 6"],"patched":["virtualenv 20.36.1"],"published":"2026-01-10","updated":"2026-10-15","sourceUpdated":"2026-10-15T11:33:36+00:00","source":"CSAF","sourceUrl":"https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22702.json","references":[{"url":"https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22702.json"},{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-22702"},{"url":"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2428441"},{"url":"https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-22702"},{"url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22702"},{"url":"https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/commit/dec4cec5d16edaf83a00a658f32d1e032661cebc"},{"url":"https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/pull/3013"},{"url":"https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/security/advisories/GHSA-597g-3phw-6986"},{"url":"https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv"}],"tags":["csaf","vex","red-hat","osv","pip"],"epss":0.001,"epssPercentile":0.00865,"aliases":["GHSA-597g-3phw-6986","BIT-virtualenv-2026-22702","PYSEC-2026-2009"],"ecosystem":"pip","ingestedAt":"2026-07-08T18:25:45.829Z","slug":"CVE-2026-22702","body":"## Overview\n\nA flaw was found in virtualenv, a tool for creating isolated virtual Python environments. A local attacker can exploit a Time-of-Check-Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) race condition during directory creation operations. By performing symlink-based attacks, the attacker can redirect virtualenv's application data and lock file operations to locations they control. This could lead to information disclosure or data tampering.\n\n## Vendor advisories\n\n- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: OpenShift Lightspeed, OpenShift Service Mesh 2, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI), Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces, … · no fix planned: OpenShift Lightspeed, OpenShift Service Mesh 2, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, … · updated 2026-10-15 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22702.json)\n\n**virtualenv: virtualenv: Local attacker can redirect file operations via TOCTOU race condition** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-01-10, updated 2026-10-15.\n\nAffected:\n\n- OpenShift Lightspeed\n- OpenShift Service Mesh 2\n- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8\n- Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)\n- Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces\n- Red Hat Satellite 6\n\nNo fix planned:\n\n- OpenShift Lightspeed\n- OpenShift Service Mesh 2\n- Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8\n- Red Hat OpenShift AI (RHOAI)\n- Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces\n- Red Hat Satellite 6\n\n## Remediation\n\nFix deferred\n\nWorkarounds / mitigations:\n\n- Given that this vulnerability requires local access and exploits a race condition during directory creation, ensuring that `virtualenv` operations are performed in trusted and controlled environments can reduce the risk. Limiting the execution of `virtualenv` by untrusted users or within sandboxed environments can help mitigate potential information disclosure or data tampering.\n\n## Package advisory (CVE-2026-22702)\n\nAffected packages:\n\n- `virtualenv < 20.36.1`\n\nPatched in:\n\n- `virtualenv 20.36.1`\n\nSource: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-597g-3phw-6986","depth":"sunlit","depthScore":25,"depthScoreParts":{"impact":24.8,"likelihood":0,"exploitation":0,"ransomware":0},"changes":[]}