GHSA-q2x5-4xjx-c6p9

### Impact

The `FetchUrlReader` component, used by the catalog and other plugins to fetch content from URLs, followed HTTP redirects automatically. This allowed an attacker who controls a host listed in `backend.reading.allow` to redirect requests to internal or sensitive URLs that are not on the allowlist, bypassing the URL allowlist security control.

This is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability that could allow access to internal resources, but it does not allow attackers to include additional request headers.

### Patches

This vulnerability is fixed in `@backstage/backend-defaults` version 0.12.2, 0.13.2, 0.14.1, and 0.15.0. Users should upgrade to this version or later.

### Workarounds

- Restrict `backend.reading.allow` to only trusted hosts that you control and that do not issue redirects - Ensure allowed hosts do not have open redirect vulnerabilities - Use network-level controls to block access from Backstage to sensitive internal endpoints

### References

- [OWASP SSRF Prevention Cheat Sheet](https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/Server_Side_Request_Forgery_Prevention_Cheat_Sheet.html)