Knowledge articles containing external links with the html attribute Target set as "None (use implicit)" do not work within the nav_to.do page - Known Error

Knowledge articles containing external links with the html attribute Target set as "None (use implicit)" do not work within the nav_to.do page Description Knowledge article containing html links pointing to external sites without the attribute Target = "_blank" do not work when opened on the platform page(nav_to.do?url=). The link works only if the knowledge article is opened in a new tab. This issue is reproducible on London, Madrid, New York OOTB instances.

Steps to Reproduce

In any clean out-of-the-box instance, with demo data ( London, Madrid or New York):

Search KB0000012 in global search Click on the external link "Apple Store" on the third bullet point in the article ==> Observe that the "Apple Store" link doesn't open with errors in console Navigate to kb_knowledge.list Search for KB0000012 in the list view Open the kb article in a new tab and click on "view article" Click on the external link "Apple Store" on the third bullet point in article ==> Observe that the "Apple Store" does open in this tab Workaround This is expected behavior and by design in all currently supported releases. Let me explain:

There are two issues with the HTML link :

If the HTML link in the steps to reproduce is served over HTTP, it won't be loaded when trying to navigate from an instance served over HTTPS. If after fixing the link to use HTTPS, the link has the response header 'x-frame-options: SAMEORIGIN', the instance cannot load the page in the kb_knowledge IFRAME. This is the correct browser behavior, for all modern browsers.

Any site in a link that has that header must be opened in a new tab or opened from the kb article when it is not embedded in an IFRAME.