Executive brief
Directus, a platform for managing database content, is vulnerable to an open redirect flaw. Attackers can trick administrators into visiting a legitimate-looking security setup page that, once completed, automatically sends them to a malicious website. This can be used in phishing campaigns to steal credentials or deliver malware by exploiting the user's trust in the official domain.
Technical details
An open redirect vulnerability (CWE-601) exists in Directus prior to version 11.16.1. The flaw is located in the `/admin/tfa-setup` component, which accepts a user-supplied URL in the `redirect` query parameter. When an administrator who has not yet configured Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) completes the setup process via a crafted link, the application redirects them to the specified external URL without validation. This requires user interaction (completing 2FA setup) but no prior authentication from the attacker. The vulnerability is fixed in version 11.16.1.
Affected products
- Directus Directus < 11.16.1
Timeline
- 2026-04-02: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-04-06: disclosed: CVE published to NVD