# CVE-2015-1164: serve-static open redirect vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2015-1164-serve-static-open-redirect-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2020-08-31. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2015-1164 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2020-08-31

serve-static is a Node.js middleware library that serves static files in web applications. When mounted at the root directory, certain browsers interpret maliciously crafted URLs as external redirects, allowing attackers to redirect users to arbitrary external websites. This can be exploited for phishing attacks or malware distribution.

Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2015-1164 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2015-1164 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2015-1164?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 31 August 2020.

**Which products and versions are affected?** serve-static (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.7.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2015-1164?** Yes. serve-static (npm): upgrade to 1.7.2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2015-1164 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2015-1164?** Check whether you run serve-static (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- serve-static (npm): upgrade to 1.7.2 or later

  ```sh
  npm install serve-static@1.7.2
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability is an open redirect (CWE-601) in serve-static versions prior to 1.6.5 and 1.7.x prior to 1.7.2. When mounted at the root, the middleware fails to properly validate redirect locations, allowing crafted URLs with double slashes and dot-dot sequences (e.g., //www.google.com/%2e%2e) to bypass path normalization. The attack requires network access and user interaction (clicking a malicious link). Some browsers (Firefox, Safari, IE) interpret the response Location header as an external URL, redirecting users outside the application. Patches are available: update to serve-static 1.6.5 (for 1.6.x) or 1.7.2 (for 1.7.x).

## Affected products

- Express.js serve-static prior to 1.6.5; 1.7.0 prior to 1.7.2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2015-1164
- GHSA-c3x7-gjmx-r2ff

## Timeline

- 2015-01-03: disclosed: Issue reported in GitHub
- 2015: patched: Fixes released in 1.6.5 and 1.7.2
- 2020-08-31: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-c3x7-gjmx-r2ff published

## References

- [https://github.com/expressjs/serve-static/issues/26](https://github.com/expressjs/serve-static/issues/26)

## Related threats

- [serve-static template injection leading to XSS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-43800-serve-static-template-injection-leading-to-xss)