# CVE-2020-11073: Remote Code Execution in Autoswitch Python Virtualenv

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code by placing a malicious .venv file in a directory accessed by a user of the Zsh autoswitch virtualenv plugin.

- **Severity:** High 7.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 May 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h8wm-cqq6-957q

## What is CVE-2020-11073?

CVE-2020-11073 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in MichaelAquilina zsh-autoswitch-virtualenv, published on 13 May 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In Autoswitch Python Virtualenv before version 0.16.0, a user who enters a directory with a malicious `.venv` file could run arbitrary code without any user interaction. This is fixed in version: 1.16.0

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-11073?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Autoswitch Python Virtualenv Project Autoswitch Python Virtualenv.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-11073?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-11073 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-11073 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-11073 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-11073 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-11073 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in MichaelAquilina zsh-autoswitch-virtualenv, published on 13 May 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-11073 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: MichaelAquilina zsh-autoswitch-virtualenv. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11073/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11073/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-11073
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11073
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-11073

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11073/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.