Date: 
Wednesday, May 20th, 2020
Advisory ID: 
BACKDROP-SA-CORE-2020-003
Security risk: 
Moderately Critical
Vulnerability: 
Open Redirect
Versions affected: 
  • Backdrop Core 1.16.x versions prior to 1.16.1
  • Backdrop Core 1.15.x versions prior to 1.15.3

Backdrop versions 1.14 and prior do not receive security coverage.

Description: 

Backdrop CMS has an Open Redirect vulnerability. For example, a user could be tricked into visiting a specially crafted link which would redirect them to an arbitrary external URL.

The vulnerability is caused by insufficient validation of the destination query parameter in the backdrop_goto() function.

Solution: 

Upgrade your site to the most recent version of Backdrop core. Download available on the Backdrop CMS 1.16.1 release page. See the update instructions, if needed.

Reported By: 
Fixed By: 
Coordinated By: 

Security email list

Backdrop maintains a security mailing list. Whenever a security release comes out, an email will be sent to everyone subscribed to that list, announcing the new release. Please follow the steps below to join the Security email list.

  1. Log in to backdropcms.org
  2. Edit your profile
  3. Switch to the "Subscriptions" tab
  4. Check the box labeled "Security updates"
  5. Save the form