# CVE-2026-116689: follow-redirects credential header leakage on cross-origin redirect

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116689-follow-redirects-is-a-node-js-http-and-https-client-wrapper-that  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-27. Updated: 2026-10-27  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-116689 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.9 · Published 2026-10-27

follow-redirects is a Node.js library that automatically handles HTTP redirects for client applications. A flaw in versions 1.16.0–1.16.1 causes sensitive credential headers to be forwarded to attacker-controlled cross-origin redirect destinations, potentially exposing authentication tokens or other credentials to external servers. An attacker can exploit this by triggering a redirect to a malicious site that captures the leaked credentials.

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-2026-116689 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-116689 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-116689?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.9, published 27 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Follow-Redirects 1.16.0 to 1.16.1; follow-redirects (npm) >= 1.16.0, <= 1.16.1, SEMVER:introduced=1.16.0,fixed=1.16.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-116689?** Yes. follow-redirects (npm): upgrade to 1.16.2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-116689 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-116689?** 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 1.16.2 or later

  ```sh
  npm install follow-redirects@1.16.2
  ```


## Technical details

The vulnerability stems from improper array type-checking: the sensitiveHeaders option is validated using the instanceof Array operator instead of Array.isArray(), allowing arrays created in different JavaScript realms to bypass the check and be replaced with an empty list. When a cross-origin redirect occurs, credential headers that should have been filtered are forwarded to the redirect destination, violating security boundaries.

## Affected products

- follow-redirects follow-redirects 1.16.0 to 1.16.1

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-116689
- GHSA-mrwp-f3q8-3g9p

## Timeline

- 2026-10-27: disclosed

## References

- [https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/commit/b0a7751e9cd64cd8eeb6ec67d2f206a9cc88d3f8](https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/commit/b0a7751e9cd64cd8eeb6ec67d2f206a9cc88d3f8)
- [https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/releases/tag/v1.16.2](https://github.com/follow-redirects/follow-redirects/releases/tag/v1.16.2)

## Related threats

- [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 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)