CVE-2020-26291
Hostname spoofing in URI.js
URI.js is a javascript URL mutation library (npm package urijs). In URI.js before version 1.19.4, the hostname can be spoofed by using a backslash (\) character followed by an at (@) character. If the hostname is used in security decisions, the decision may be incorrect. Depending on library usage and attacker intent, impacts may include allow/block list bypasses, SSRF attacks, open redirects, or other undesired behavior. For example the URL https://expected-example.com\@observed-example.com will incorrectly return observed-example.com if using an affected version. Patched versions correctly return expected-example.com. Patched versions match the behavior of other parsers which implement the WHATWG URL specification, including web browsers and Node's built-in URL class. Version 1.19.4 is patched against all known payload variants. Version 1.19.3 has a partial patch but is still vulnerable to a payload variant.]
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Hostname spoofing in URI.js
URI.js is a javascript URL mutation library (npm package urijs). In URI.js before version 1.19.4, the hostname can be spoofed by using a backslash (\) character followed by an at (@) character. If the hostname is used in security decisions, the decision may be incorrect. Depending on library usage and attacker intent, impacts may include allow/block list bypasses, SSRF attacks, open redirects, or other undesired behavior. For example the URL https://expected-example.com\@observed-example.com will incorrectly return observed-example.com if using an affected version. Patched versions correctly return expected-example.com. Patched versions match the behavior of other parsers which implement the WHATWG URL specification, including web browsers and Node's built-in URL class. Version 1.19.4 is patched against all known payload variants. Version 1.19.3 has a partial patch but is still vulnerable to a payload variant.]
- Record
CVE-2020-26291- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2020-1476
URI.js is a javascript URL mutation library (npm package urijs). In URI.js before version 1.19.4, the hostname can be spoofed by using a backslash (\) character followed by an at (@) character. If the hostname is used in security decisions, the decision may be incorrect. Depending on library usage and attacker intent, impacts may include allow/block list bypasses, SSRF attacks, open redirects, or other undesired behavior. For example the URL https://expected-example.com\@observed-example.com will incorrectly return observed-example.com if using an affected version. Patched versions correctly return expected-example.com. Patched versions match the behavior of other parsers which implement the WHATWG URL specification, including web browsers and Node's built-in URL class. Version 1.19.4 is patched against all known payload variants. Version 1.19.3 has a partial patch but is still vulnerable to a payload variant.]
- Record
EUVD-2020-1476- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-3329-pjwv-fjpg
Hostname spoofing via backslashes in URL
Impact
If using affected versions to determine a URL's hostname, the hostname can be spoofed by using a backslash (\) character followed by an at (@) character. If the hostname is used in security decisions, the decision may be incorrect.
Depending on library usage and attacker intent, impacts may include allow/block list bypasses, SSRF attacks, open redirects, or other undesired behavior.
Example URL: https://expected-example.com\@observed-example.com
Escaped string: https://expected-example.com\\@observed-example.com (JavaScript strings must escape backslash)
Affected versions incorrectly return observed-example.com. Patched versions correctly return expected-example.com. Patched versions match the behavior of other parsers which implement the WHATWG URL specification, including web browsers and Node's built-in URL class.
Patches
Version 1.19.4 is patched against all known payload variants. Version 1.19.3 has a partial patch but is still vulnerable to a payload variant.
References
https://github.com/medialize/URI.js/releases/tag/v1.19.4 (complete fix for this bypass) https://github.com/medialize/URI.js/releases/tag/v1.19.3 (partial fix for this bypass) PR #233 (initial fix for backslash handling)
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, open an issue in https://github.com/medialize/URI.js
Reporter credit
- Record
GHSA-3329-pjwv-fjpg- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
URI.js is a javascript URL mutation library (npm package urijs). In URI.js before version 1.19.4, the hostname can be spoofed by using a backslash (\) character followed by an at (@) character. If the hostname is used in security decisions, the decision may be incorrect. Depending on library usage and attacker intent, impacts may include allow/block list bypasses, SSRF attacks, open redirects, or other undesired behavior. For example the URL https://expected-example.com\@observed-example.com will incorrectly return observed-example.com if using an affected version. Patched versions correctly return expected-example.com. Patched versions match the behavior of other parsers which implement the WHATWG URL specification, including web browsers and Node's built-in URL class. Version 1.19.4 is patched against all known payload variants. Version 1.19.3 has a partial patch but is still vulnerable to a payload variant.]
- Record
CVE-2020-26291- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 4.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
URI.js is a javascript URL mutation library (npm package urijs). In URI.js before version 1.19.4, the hostname can be spoofed by using a backslash (\) character followed by an at (@) character. If the hostname is used in security decisions, the decision may be incorrect. Depending on library usage and attacker intent, impacts may include allow/block list bypasses, SSRF attacks, open redirects, or other undesired behavior. For example the URL https://expected-example.com\@observed-example.com will incorrectly return observed-example.com if using an affected version. Patched versions correctly return expected-example.com. Patched versions match the behavior of other parsers which implement the WHATWG URL specification, including web browsers and Node's built-in URL class. Version 1.19.4 is patched against all known payload variants. Version 1.19.3 has a partial patch but is still vulnerable to a payload variant.]
- Record
CVE-2020-26291- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-3329-pjwv-fjpg
Hostname spoofing via backslashes in URL
Impact
If using affected versions to determine a URL's hostname, the hostname can be spoofed by using a backslash (\) character followed by an at (@) character. If the hostname is used in security decisions, the decision may be incorrect.
Depending on library usage and attacker intent, impacts may include allow/block list bypasses, SSRF attacks, open redirects, or other undesired behavior.
Example URL: https://expected-example.com\@observed-example.com
Escaped string: https://expected-example.com\\@observed-example.com (JavaScript strings must escape backslash)
Affected versions incorrectly return observed-example.com. Patched versions correctly return expected-example.com. Patched versions match the behavior of other parsers which implement the WHATWG URL specification, including web browsers and Node's built-in URL class.
Patches
Version 1.19.4 is patched against all known payload variants. Version 1.19.3 has a partial patch but is still vulnerable to a payload variant.
References
https://github.com/medialize/URI.js/releases/tag/v1.19.4 (complete fix for this bypass) https://github.com/medialize/URI.js/releases/tag/v1.19.3 (partial fix for this bypass) PR #233 (initial fix for backslash handling)
For more information
If you have any questions or comments about this advisory, open an issue in https://github.com/medialize/URI.js
Reporter credit
- Record
GHSA-3329-pjwv-fjpg- CVSS 3.1
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
urijsnpm |
before 1.19.4 | 1.19.4 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2020-26291 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Medialize Uri.js, published December 30, 2020. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.71%, the 77th percentile. Fixed in urijs 1.19.4.
References
github.com/medialize/URI.js/security/advisories/GHSA-3329-pjwv-fjpg
npmjs.com/package/urijs
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-26291