# CVE-2020-4048: Open redirect in wp_validate_redirect() in WordPress > An attacker can craft a link that redirects users to an arbitrary external site, potentially facilitating phishing attacks against WordPress users. - **Severity:** Medium 5.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Any signed-in user - **Attackable:** Over the internet - **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 12 Jun 2020 - **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024 - **Also known as:** BIT-wordpress-2020-4048, BIT-wordpress-multisite-2020-4048, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-4048, GHSA-q6pw-gvf4-5fj5, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-4048 ## What is CVE-2020-4048? CVE-2020-4048 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 12 Jun 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. ### Official description In affected versions of WordPress, due to an issue in wp_validate_redirect() and URL sanitization, an arbitrary external link can be crafted leading to unintended/open redirect when clicked. This has been patched in version 5.4.2, along with all the previously affected versions via a minor release (5.3.4, 5.2.7, 5.1.6, 5.0.10, 4.9.15, 4.8.14, 4.7.18, 4.6.19, 4.5.22, 4.4.23, 4.3.24, 4.2.28, 4.1.31, 4.0.31, 3.9.32, 3.8.34, 3.7.34). Weakness: CWE-601 (URL Redirection to Untrusted Site) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-4048? 2 open source packages ship an affected version, including wordpress and wordpress-multisite. It affects 3 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `wordpress` | Bitnami | From 3.7.0 | 3.7.34, 3.8.34, 3.9.32, 4.0.31, 4.1.31, 4.2.28, 4.3.24, 4.4.23, 4.5.22, 4.6.19, 4.7.18, 4.8.14, 4.9.15, 5.0.10, 5.1.6, 5.2.7, 5.3.4, 5.4.2 | | `wordpress-multisite` | Bitnami | From 3.7.0 | 3.7.34, 3.8.34, 3.9.32, 4.0.31, 4.1.31, 4.2.28, 4.3.24, 4.4.23, 4.5.22, 4.6.19, 4.7.18, 4.8.14, 4.9.15, 5.0.10, 5.1.6, 5.2.7, 5.3.4, 5.4.2 | Products: Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora, Wordpress Wordpress. ## How do I fix CVE-2020-4048? Upgrade wordpress to a fixed version for your release line: 3.7.34, 3.8.34, 3.9.32 or 4.0.31. ## Is CVE-2020-4048 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-4048 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux - [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2020-4048 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2020-4048 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 12 Jun 2020. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-4048 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - wordpress (Bitnami): affected from 3.7.0; fixed in 3.7.34, 3.8.34, 3.9.32, 4.0.31, 4.1.31, 4.2.28, 4.3.24, 4.4.23, 4.5.22, 4.6.19, 4.7.18, 4.8.14, 4.9.15, 5.0.10, 5.1.6, 5.2.7, 5.3.4, 5.4.2 - wordpress-multisite (Bitnami): affected from 3.7.0; fixed in 3.7.34, 3.8.34, 3.9.32, 4.0.31, 4.1.31, 4.2.28, 4.3.24, 4.4.23, 4.5.22, 4.6.19, 4.7.18, 4.8.14, 4.9.15, 5.0.10, 5.1.6, 5.2.7, 5.3.4, 5.4.2 Task: 1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies. 2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it. 3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead. 4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why. 5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing. Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4048/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4048/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-4048 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-4048 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-4048 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-4048/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.