CVE-2026-53668 in react-router
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
React Router is a router for React. In versions 6.30.2 through 6.30.4 and 7.9.6 through 7.12.0, applications that allow open redirects are vulnerable to XSS. An attacker could craft a malicious link that redirects users to an unexpected external site or that exploits an XSS vector.This issue has been fixed in version 7.13.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
This vulnerability affects React Router applications that handle open redirects, creating a cross-site scripting attack surface through improper input validation and sanitization. The flaw exists in versions 6.30.2 through 6.30.4 and 7.9.6 through 7.12.0 where the router fails to properly sanitize redirect URLs, allowing malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into redirect destinations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied redirect parameters that are processed without proper sanitization or encoding, enabling attackers to craft malicious links that exploit XSS vectors during the redirection process.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when applications use React Router's redirect functionality with external URLs that are not properly validated or escaped before being used in the browser context. This creates a condition where attacker-controlled input can be interpreted as executable code rather than mere navigation instructions, particularly when the redirect target contains script tags or other malicious payloads. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution through web-based attacks.
When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized redirects to malicious websites while simultaneously injecting XSS payloads into the redirect process. The operational impact includes potential data theft, session hijacking, credential harvesting, and malicious code execution in victims' browsers. Attackers can craft URLs that appear legitimate to users but redirect them to phishing sites or inject malicious scripts that persist across user sessions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in applications that accept user input for redirect destinations without proper validation controls.
The fix implemented in version 7.13.0 addresses this by introducing proper URL sanitization and validation mechanisms within the React Router redirect functionality. This includes enhanced input filtering, proper HTML escaping of redirect parameters, and stricter validation of external URLs to prevent malicious content from being processed as legitimate navigation targets. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 7.13.0 or higher to mitigate this risk, while also implementing additional security measures such as Content Security Policy headers, proper input validation at all application layers, and regular security testing of redirect functionality to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components.