Executive Summary
Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. Prior to 11.16.1, Directus is vulnerable to an open redirect via the redirect query parameter on the /admin/tfa-setup page. When an administrator who has not yet configured Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) visits a crafted URL, they are presented with the legitimate Directus 2FA setup page. After completing the setup process, the application redirects the user to the attacker-controlled URL specified in the redirect parameter without any validation. This vulnerability could be used in phishing attacks targeting Directus administrators, as the initial interaction occurs on a trusted domain. This vulnerability is fixed in 11.16.1.
Quantitative Risk Analysis
Attack Vector Profile
The payload vectors broken down by magnitude impact and ease-of-deployment factor mapping.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:NWhat This Means For Your System
Each point below is derived directly from this CVE's CVSS v3.1 vector — not editorial opinion.
Exploitable remotely over the internet — no physical or local access needed.
No special preconditions — the attack is reliably repeatable.
No authentication required — unauthenticated attackers can exploit directly.
A victim must take a specific action (open file, click link) for exploitation.
Successful exploitation causes: limited data modification.
OsVault Risk Score Methodology
The OsVault composite score is a 5-layer non-linear engine — not a simple weighted average. Each input signal is transformed through mathematically appropriate curves before blending, ensuring that exploitability context overrides raw severity when warranted.
Layer 1 (Technical): CVSS is mapped through a piecewise exponential curve with 4 bands (LOW 0–20, MEDIUM 20–55, HIGH 55–85, CRITICAL 85–100), then multiplied by full CVSS vector decomposition factors for Attack Vector, Complexity, Privileges, and User Interaction.
Layer 2 (Threat): Raw EPSS is passed through a logistic sigmoid (k=40, midpoint=0.05) to maximize discrimination in the decision-relevant range. The result is added to an exploit maturity tier base score (Weaponized: 85, Functional: 55, PoC: 40, Unproven: 18).
Layer 3 (KEV Floor):Any CVE in CISA's catalog receives a hard minimum of 93.0 (Functional) or 97.0 (Weaponized). This ensures confirmed exploitation is never buried by low CVSS scores.
Scores ≥70: patch immediately. 40–69: schedule within current sprint. Below 40: standard maintenance cycle.
Remediation Commands
Commands to update each affected package identified in this advisory. Verify the target release explicitly addresses this CVE in the upstream changelog before deploying to production.
npm install directus@latest