# CVE-2026-105846: Payload open redirect in authentication flow

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105846-payload-untrusted-redirect-url-parameter-exploit  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-06. Updated: 2026-10-06  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-105846 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.1 · Published 2026-10-06

Payload is a headless CMS framework that manages content and authentication. An attacker can craft a malicious link containing an untrusted redirect URL that, when clicked by a guest user during authentication, sends them to an external website after login. This enables phishing attacks or redirection to malicious sites without user awareness.

Technologies: [@payloadcms/next (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/payloadcms-next), [payload (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/payload), [Payload CMS Payload](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/payload-cms-payload). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm), [Payload CMS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/payload-cms).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-105846 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-105846 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-105846?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.1, published 6 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** @payloadcms/next (npm) SEMVER:introduced=3.31.0,fixed=3.88.0; payload (npm) SEMVER:introduced=3.40.0,fixed=3.88.0; Payload CMS @Payloadcms/Next >= 3.31.0, < 3.88.0; >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.27; Payload CMS Payload >= 3.40.0, < 3.88.0; >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.27.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-105846?** Yes. @payloadcms/next (npm): upgrade to 3.88.0 or later; payload (npm): upgrade to 3.88.0 or later. Until then: Remove user-controlled redirect values from authentication flows or restrict them to known local paths only. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-105846 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-105846?** Check whether you run @payloadcms/next (npm), payload (npm), Payload CMS @Payloadcms/Next or one of the others listed 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

- @payloadcms/next (npm): upgrade to 3.88.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install @payloadcms/next@3.88.0
  ```

- payload (npm): upgrade to 3.88.0 or later

  ```sh
  npm install payload@3.88.0
  ```


Remove user-controlled redirect values from authentication flows or restrict them to known local paths only.

## Technical details

An open redirect vulnerability (CWE-601) exists in Payload's authentication flow where user-controlled redirect URL parameters are not properly validated. An unauthenticated attacker can supply a malicious redirect URL that gets followed after a user authenticates, requiring user interaction to click the crafted link. This allows attackers to redirect authenticated users to untrusted destinations for credential harvesting or phishing.

## Affected products

- Payload CMS payload >= 3.40.0, < 3.88.0; >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.27
- Payload CMS @payloadcms/next >= 3.31.0, < 3.88.0; >= 4.0.0-canary.0, < 4.0.0-canary.27

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-105846
- GHSA-w84c-53h3-mc2g

## Timeline

- 2026-09-22: disclosed
- 2026-10-06: advisory

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/kullai-secasure](https://api.github.com/users/kullai-secasure)

## Related threats

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- [Payload CMS stored XSS in SVG upload sanitization](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-105862-payload-is-a-free-and-open-source-headless-content-management)
