Skip to content
Aback Tools Logo

Open Redirect Checker

Test any URL for open redirect vulnerabilities with our free Open Redirect Checker. The tool scans query parameters for over 40 known redirect parameter names (url, redirect, next, return, target, and more), analyzes parameter values to detect external URLs and encoded payloads, and sends 14 different open redirect bypass tests from your browser where the site allows cross-origin requests - browsers hide where a redirect points, so payloads that trigger one are flagged for verification with curl rather than confirmed. Also detects URL shorteners and whether the URL itself redirects - all from your browser. No signup required.

Open Redirect Checker
Test a URL for open redirect vulnerabilities. The tool scans query parameters for known redirect parameter names (locally), then tries common open redirect payloads against the live site. Browsers only allow those live tests on sites that accept cross-origin requests, and they hide where a redirect points - such results are marked inconclusive rather than safe, with a curl command to verify them.

Enter a URL with redirect parameters to test (https:// is added automatically if missing)

Quick test:
How Open Redirect Testing Works

An open redirect is a vulnerability where a web application accepts user-supplied URLs in parameters like ?url=,?redirect=, or ?next= and redirects users to those URLs without validation. Attackers use open redirects for phishing attacks - a link to legitimate.com?url=https://evil.comlooks safe but redirects to a malicious site. This tool checks for over 40 known redirect parameter names, tests 14 common bypass payloads, and detects URL shorteners and protocol-relative redirects. All testing runs from your browser.

Why Use Our Open Redirect Checker?

Comprehensive Parameter Scanning

Scans URLs for over 40 known open redirect parameter names including url, redirect, next, return, target, destination, goto, and many more. Each parameter is analyzed for risk level based on whether it accepts URL values, external domains, IP addresses, or encoded payloads.

Open Redirect Payload Testing

Tests 14 common open redirect bypass payloads including protocol-relative URLs, credential confusion, backslash bypass, double encoding, data URIs, JavaScript URIs, and IPv6 localhost. Each payload is sent from your browser with redirects intercepted: a payload that gets no redirect is marked safe for that payload, while one that triggers a redirect is flagged as inconclusive because browsers hide the Location header - verify those with curl -sI. Sites that block cross-origin requests cannot be tested live.

URL Shortener & Redirect Detection

Detects over 25 URL shortener services including Bitly, TinyURL, ow.ly, t.co, and more. Checks whether the URL itself redirects and, when the sites involved allow cross-origin requests, where it ends up. Shortened URLs are flagged as they can obscure the final destination and enable redirect attacks.

Browser-Based Security Testing

All open redirect checks run directly from your browser. URLs are scanned client-side, payload tests use browser fetch requests, and no data is sent to our servers. Your tested URLs and results stay completely private. No signup.

Common Use Cases for Open Redirect Checker

Web Application Security Audit

Use our Open Redirect Checker to audit your web application for open redirect vulnerabilities before attackers find them. Scan login pages, authentication callbacks, and any URL that accepts redirect parameters. Identify and fix vulnerable endpoints before they can be exploited for phishing attacks.

Bug Bounty & Penetration Testing

Add our Open Redirect Checker to your bug bounty toolkit. Quickly scan URLs for risky redirect parameters during reconnaissance and vulnerability assessment. The tool's payload testing shows which bypass payloads trigger a redirect, giving you leads to verify with curl or an intercepting proxy such as Burp, saving time during engagements.

Phishing URL Analysis

Analyze suspicious URLs received in emails, messages, or social media posts. Our Open Redirect Checker extracts the destinations hidden in redirect parameters and flags external targets, showing where such URLs are set up to lead. Identify phishing campaigns that abuse legitimate websites' open redirects to appear trustworthy.

Security Code Review Support

During code reviews, use our Open Redirect Checker to test endpoints that handle redirect parameters. Validate that redirect logic properly sanitizes user input, uses allowlists instead of blocklists, and does not accept arbitrary external URLs. Supplement manual code review with automated testing.

Security Awareness Training

Demonstrate open redirect vulnerabilities to developers and security teams during training sessions. Show how seemingly safe URLs with redirect parameters can be exploited, how different bypass techniques work, and why proper URL validation is critical for application security.

OWASP Testing Guide Compliance

Meet OWASP Web Security Testing Guide requirements for testing open redirects (WSTG-CLNT-04). Our Open Redirect Checker provides systematic testing for open redirect vulnerabilities, helping organizations comply with security testing standards and frameworks.

Understanding Open Redirect Vulnerabilities

What is an Open Redirect Vulnerability?

An open redirect is a security vulnerability that occurs when a web application accepts user-supplied input (typically via query parameters like ?url=,?redirect=, or?next=) and uses that input to redirect the user to another URL without proper validation. Attackers exploit open redirects to create convincing phishing URLs - the link appears to point to a legitimate domain (e.g., legitimate-bank.com/login?redirect=https://evil.com), but the user is silently redirected to a malicious site. Open redirects are classified as CWE-601 (URL Redirection to Untrusted Site) and are a common finding in OWASP Top 10 security assessments.

How Our Open Redirect Checker Works

  1. URL Parsing & Parameter Analysis: The tool parses the URL and extracts all query parameters. Each parameter name is checked against a database of 40+ known open redirect parameter names. Parameter values are analyzed to determine if they contain URLs, external domains, IP addresses, or encoded payloads.
  2. Payload Testing: For each known redirect parameter found, the tool appends 14 different open redirect bypass payloads and sends HEAD requests from your browser with redirect: "manual" to intercept any redirects. Browsers report such a redirect without its status code or Location header, so a payload that triggers one is marked inconclusive - verify where it points with curl -sI. Sites that block cross-origin requests cannot be tested this way.
  3. Redirect & Shortener Analysis: The tool checks whether the URL itself redirects (and where to, when the sites involved allow cross-origin requests) and checks for known URL shortener domains. Shortened URLs and URLs that redirect to external domains are flagged as they can be used to obfuscate the final destination.
  4. Risk Assessment: All findings are combined into a severity-based assessment. High-risk parameters accepting external URLs, or a URL that itself redirects to an external domain, receive a high rating. URLs with redirect parameters that may accept URL values receive a medium rating. Payloads that triggered a redirect are listed as inconclusive for you to verify.

Common Open Redirect Bypass Techniques

  • Protocol-Relative URLs: Using //evil.com instead of https://evil.com to bypass checks that look for http://.
  • Credential Confusion: Using https://[email protected] where the browser interprets evil.com as a username and redirects to the attacker's server.
  • Double Encoding: Using percent-encoded characters to bypass simple pattern matching. For example, %68%74%74%70://evil.com decodes to http://evil.com.
  • Backslash Bypass: Using backslashes instead of forward slashes, like \\evil.com, which some URL parsers interpret differently than forward slashes.
  • Data URI & JavaScript Schemes: Using data: or javascript: URIs to execute code or redirect in ways that bypass HTTP-based validation.

Privacy, Security & Limitations

Our Open Redirect Checker runs entirely in your browser. URL parsing, parameter analysis, and payload generation happen client-side. Payload testing sends HEAD requests directly from your browser to the target server - we do not proxy, store, or log any URLs you test. The tool is 100% free with no signup, no account, and no usage limits.

Important limitations:Browsers never let a web page read the Location header of a redirect, so a payload that triggers a redirect is reported as inconclusive rather than confirmed, and sites that don't allow cross-origin requests cannot be tested live at all - those payloads are reported as untested rather than safe. Verify flagged payloads with curl -sI or an intercepting proxy such as Burp or ZAP. The tool tests for the most common open redirect patterns but cannot guarantee detection of all possible bypass techniques. A test result indicating no vulnerability does not guarantee that the URL is safe - it means no common open redirect pattern was detected. For comprehensive security testing, use this tool alongside manual code review and dedicated security scanners.

Related Tools

Domain Age Checker

Check the age of any domain in years, months, weeks, and days. Enter a domain name to get its creation date, registration timeline, registrar info, and SEO authority estimate based on domain age - all fetched from the official RDAP registry in real time. Free online domain age checker.

DNS Lookup Tool

Free DNS lookup tool online. Look up A, AAAA, MX, CNAME, NS, TXT, SOA, CAA, PTR, and SRV records for any domain via DNS-over-HTTPS. Instant results - no signup required.

Query String Builder

Build, encode, and decode URL query strings from key-value pairs. Add parameters in an interactive table with automatic URL-encoding, choose from Standard, Form URL-encoded, or Minimal encoding modes, load presets for UTM campaigns and API pagination, and copy the result with or without the leading ?

DNSSEC Checker

Free DNSSEC checker online. Check if any domain has DNSSEC enabled - query DS, DNSKEY, and RRSIG records via DNS-over-HTTPS. View cryptographic details, algorithm types, and key roles - no signup required.

Data URI Generator

Convert text and files to data URIs (data:[MIME-type];base64,...) instantly. Type or paste text, upload files, or drag and drop to convert. Auto-detects MIME types from over 60 file extensions and 10+ text content patterns (HTML, JSON, SVG, CSS, JavaScript, Markdown, YAML). Size analysis with overhead percentages.

Page Speed Checker

Free page speed checker online. Fetch Google PageSpeed Insights scores and Core Web Vitals for any URL. Check Performance, Accessibility, Best Practices, and SEO scores instantly - no signup required.

URL Parser

Parse any URL into its components: protocol, hostname, port, path, query parameters, and fragment. Shows both raw (encoded) and decoded values side by side with query parameter breakdowns, URL validation warnings, and copy-to-clipboard - free online URL parser.

Ping Tool (Browser)

Free browser ping tool online. Measure HTTP response time to any public hostname via fetch timing. Get min, avg, max RTT, jitter, and packet loss - no signup required.

Frequently Asked Questions About Open Redirect Checker

An open redirect vulnerability occurs when a web application accepts user-supplied URLs through parameters like ?url=, ?redirect=, or ?next= and redirects users to those URLs without proper validation. Attackers exploit this to create phishing URLs that appear to point to legitimate websites but silently redirect users to malicious sites. Open redirects are classified as CWE-601 and are a common security finding in web applications.

The tool first parses the URL and scans all query parameters for over 40 known redirect parameter names. Each parameter value is analyzed to determine if it contains a URL, external domain, IP address, or encoded payload. For parameters that accept URLs, the tool sends test requests from your browser with 14 different open redirect bypass payloads. Browsers never reveal where a redirect points, so a payload that triggers a redirect is marked inconclusive for you to verify with curl -sI, and sites that block cross-origin requests cannot be tested live. The URL itself is also checked for redirects and URL shortener services.

The most effective prevention is to use a whitelist (allowlist) of permitted redirect destinations. Never use user input directly in redirect URLs without validation. Validate that the redirect target matches an allowed domain, path, or pattern. Avoid user-controlled redirect parameters entirely when possible. Use indirect references (lookup keys) instead of raw URLs. Content-Security-Policy cannot stop a server-side redirect (the proposed navigate-to directive was dropped and never shipped), so the fix has to be in the redirect logic itself.

Open redirects are a serious security concern because they enable highly convincing phishing attacks. A URL like https://legitimate-bank.com/login?redirect=https://evil-phishing.com appears to point to the bank's website, tricking users into trusting the link. Even security-conscious users may be fooled by legitimate domains in URLs. Open redirects can also bypass URL reputation filters, email security scanners, and SSRF protections.

A normal redirect uses server-side logic to redirect users to a predetermined, safe destination (e.g., redirecting to a user's dashboard after login). An open redirect uses user-supplied input to determine the redirect destination without proper validation. The key difference is whether the target URL is controlled by the application (safe) or by the user/attacker (potentially dangerous).

The tool tests 14 of the most common open redirect bypass techniques, including protocol-relative URLs, credential confusion, double encoding, backslash bypass, data URIs, JavaScript URIs, subdomain spoofing, and more. From a browser it can only see whether a payload caused a redirect, not where the redirect points, so redirecting payloads are leads to verify with curl -sI rather than confirmed findings. It also cannot guarantee detection of all possible bypass techniques - new bypasses are discovered regularly. Use this tool as part of a comprehensive security testing strategy that includes manual code review and dedicated security scanners.

Yes. All URL scanning and analysis runs directly in your browser. Payload testing sends requests from your browser to the target server. We do not proxy, store, log, or process any URLs or test results on our servers. Your tested URLs and results stay completely private on your device.

Yes! 100% free with no signup, no account, no API key, and no usage limits. Test as many URLs as you need for open redirect vulnerabilities - completely free, forever. All processing happens in your browser with no server costs.