# CVE-2024-28849: follow-redirects Proxy-Authorization header disclosure in cross-domain redirects

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-28849-follow-redirects-proxy-authorization-header-disclosure-in-cross  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2024-03-14. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2024-28849 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.1 · Published 2024-03-14

follow-redirects is a popular Node.js library used by axios and other HTTP clients to transparently handle HTTP redirects. The library fails to remove the Proxy-Authorization header (which contains credentials for authenticating to proxy servers) when requests are redirected across different domains, unlike how it properly clears regular Authorization and Cookie headers. An attacker controlling a target domain could receive proxy credentials intended for a different host, potentially compromising proxy infrastructure security.

Technologies: [follow-redirects (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/follow-redirects). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2024-28849 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2024-28849 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2024-28849?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.1, published 14 March 2024.

**Which products and versions are affected?** follow-redirects (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.15.6.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2024-28849?** Yes. follow-redirects (npm): upgrade to 1.15.6 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2024-28849 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2024-28849?** Check whether you run follow-redirects (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

- follow-redirects (npm): upgrade to 1.15.6 or later

  ```sh
  npm install follow-redirects@1.15.6
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability is an information disclosure flaw in follow-redirects' cross-domain redirect handling. The library's removeMatchingHeaders() function removes Authorization and Cookie headers during cross-domain redirects (per RFC 7231 and Fetch spec), but does not include Proxy-Authorization in the clearance regex. This allows proxy credentials to leak to destination hosts during redirects. The attack requires a cross-domain redirect to occur (which can be triggered by a legitimate HTTP 3xx response from the initial server), and the attacker must control the redirect target host. The fix adds "proxy-authorization" to the headers cleared during cross-domain redirects and was released in version 1.15.6.

## Affected products

- follow-redirects follow-redirects < 1.15.6

## Identifiers

- CVE-2024-28849
- GHSA-cxjh-pqwp-8mfp

## Timeline

- 2024-03-14: disclosed
- 2024-03-14: patched: Fixed in version 1.15.6

## References

- [https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/security/advisories/GHSA-cxjh-pqwp-8mfp](https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/security/advisories/GHSA-cxjh-pqwp-8mfp)

## Related threats

- [follow-redirects credential header leakage on cross-origin redirect](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116689-follow-redirects-is-a-node-js-http-and-https-client-wrapper-that)
- [follow-redirects credential header disclosure with array-form headers](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111756-follow-redirects-array-form-headers-bypass-cross-origin)
- [follow-redirects regex escape bypass in credential filtering](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111755-follow-redirects-is-a-node-js-http-and-https-client-wrapper-that)
- [follow-redirects sensitive header leak in cross-domain redirects](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40895-follow-redirects-sensitive-header-leak-in-cross-domain-redirects)
- [follow-redirects improper URL handling in url.parse()](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-26159-follow-redirects-improper-url-handling-in-url-parse)