# CVE-2026-111755: follow-redirects regex escape bypass in credential filtering

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111755-follow-redirects-is-a-node-js-http-and-https-client-wrapper-that  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-19. Updated: 2026-10-19  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-111755 · Severity: high · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-10-19

follow-redirects is a Node.js library that automatically follows HTTP redirects while protecting sensitive headers like authentication tokens. A flaw in the filtering logic allows headers with special characters (^ and |) in their names to bypass protection when redirects occur to attacker-controlled destinations, potentially exposing credentials to attackers.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-111755 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-111755 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-111755?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 19 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Follow-Redirects 1.16.0 to 1.16.0; follow-redirects (npm) >= 1.16.0, < 1.16.1, SEMVER:introduced=1.16.0,fixed=1.16.1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-111755?** Yes. follow-redirects (npm): upgrade to 1.16.1 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-111755 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-111755?** Check whether you run Follow-Redirects or 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 1.16.1 or later

  ```sh
  npm install follow-redirects@1.16.1
  ```


## Technical details

The escapeRegex function in follow-redirects versions 1.16.0 through 1.16.1 failed to escape regular expression metacharacters ^ and | used in sensitiveHeaders configuration, causing regex filters to fail matching sensitive header names containing these characters. When a cross-origin or HTTPS-to-HTTP redirect occurs, unescaped metacharacters prevent the generated filter from matching the intended header name, allowing credential headers to be forwarded to attacker-controlled redirect targets.

## Affected products

- follow-redirects follow-redirects 1.16.0 to 1.16.0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-111755
- GHSA-8r9p-f939-6h3c

## Timeline

- 2026-10-19: disclosed
- 2026-10-01: patched: Version 1.16.1 released

## References

- [https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/commit/080a76d0e125b37bf81717368a61d5dc37aa56c8](https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/commit/080a76d0e125b37bf81717368a61d5dc37aa56c8)
- [https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/releases/tag/v1.16.1](https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/releases/tag/v1.16.1)

## 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 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 Proxy-Authorization header disclosure in cross-domain redirects](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-28849-follow-redirects-proxy-authorization-header-disclosure-in-cross)
- [follow-redirects improper URL handling in url.parse()](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-26159-follow-redirects-improper-url-handling-in-url-parse)