Description
The django.util.http.is_safe_url function in Django before 1.4.18, 1.6.x before 1.6.10, and 1.7.x before 1.7.3 does not properly handle leading whitespaces, which allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via a crafted URL, related to redirect URLs, as demonstrated by a "\njavascript:" URL.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | python-django | 1.7.1-1.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | python-django | 1.7.1-1.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | python-django | 1.7.1-1.1 | — |
| Debian 7 | python-django | 1.4.5-1+deb7u9 | DSA-3151-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | python-django | 1.2.3-3+squeeze12 | DLA-143-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | python-django | 1.6.1-2ubuntu0.6 | USN-2469-1 |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PyPI | django | < 1.4.18 | 1.4.18 | GHSA-gv98-g628-m9x5 |
| PyPI | django | >= 1.6, < 1.6.10 | 1.6.10 | GHSA-gv98-g628-m9x5 |
| PyPI | django | >= 1.7, < 1.7.3 | 1.7.3 | GHSA-gv98-g628-m9x5 |
| PyPI | django | < 1.4.18 · >= 1.5, < 1.6.10 · >= 1.7, < 1.7.3 | 1.4.18, 1.6.10, 1.7.3 | PYSEC-2015-5 |
Advisories 3
- DSA-3151-1 python-django - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-143-1 python-django - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-2469-1 python-django vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
References
- 62718 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2015-0804 vendor-advisory
- USN-2469-1 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2015:036 vendor-advisory
- 62285 third-party-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:1598 vendor-advisory
- https://www.djangoproject.com/weblog/2015/jan/13/security/
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0643 vendor-advisory
- 62309 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2015:109 vendor-advisory
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2015-0026.html
- FEDORA-2015-0714 vendor-advisory