Open Redirect Vulnerability

A flaw allowing attackers to redirect users to malicious websites.

Understanding:

An Open Redirect Vulnerability occurs when a web application allows unvalidated user input to control a redirect destination, potentially leading to phishing attacks, malware distribution, or session hijacking. Attackers exploit this flaw to trick users into visiting malicious sites by masking dangerous URLs as legitimate.

Common Applications and Use Cases:

Phishing Campaigns – Attackers redirect victims to fake login pages.
Malware Distribution – Exploits can direct users to infected sites.
Session Hijacking – Attackers manipulate URL parameters to steal credentials or tokens.

Best Practices and Security Considerations:

Validate and Sanitize User Input – Restrict redirect URLs to trusted domains.
Use Allowlist-Based Redirects – Only permit predefined URLs for redirection.
Monitor for Malicious Redirects – Implement security tools to detect unauthorized redirections.