CVE-2020-4048: Open redirect in wp_validate_redirect() in WordPress

Severity: medium (CVSS 5.7 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 2.0% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2020-06-12 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-601

Description

In affected versions of WordPress, due to an issue in wp_validate_redirect() and URL sanitization, an arbitrary external link can be crafted leading to unintended/open redirect when clicked. This has been patched in version 5.4.2, along with all the previously affected versions via a minor release (5.3.4, 5.2.7, 5.1.6, 5.0.10, 4.9.15, 4.8.14, 4.7.18, 4.6.19, 4.5.22, 4.4.23, 4.3.24, 4.2.28, 4.1.31, 4.0.31, 3.9.32, 3.8.34, 3.7.34).

Affected products

Debian Linux: 8.0, 9.0, 10.0
Fedoraproject Fedora: 32, 33
WordPress: from 3.7 before 3.7.34; from 3.8 before 3.8.34; from 3.9 before 3.9.32; from 4.0 before 4.0.31; from 4.1 before 4.1.31; from 4.2 before 4.2.28 — fixed in 3.7.34, 3.8.34, 3.9.32, 4.0.31, 4.1.31, 4.2.28

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: WordPress 3.7.34, 3.8.34, 3.9.32, 4.0.31. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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