Bug Report: Incorrect Referral Link Display in Telegram Desktop

[artem-astafyev]

Steps to reproduce

1. Open Telegram Desktop.
2. Send a message containing a referral link with a query parameter (e.g., https://github.com/?ref=1).
3. Observe the generated preview card for the link below with incorrect ref parameter like https://github.com/?ref=10860 or https://github.com/.

Expected behaviour

The preview card should display the same link as the one shared in the message, including the correct referral parameter.

Actual behaviour

When sending a referral link with a query parameter (e.g., https://github.com/?ref=1) via Telegram Desktop, the preview card beneath the link displays an incorrect URL. For instance, instead of the original referral link, the card shows a different link such as https://github.com/ or https://github.com/?ref=10860. Notably, the correct link is displayed above the card, but the card itself displays a mismatched URL.

Operating system

Windows 10

Version of Telegram Desktop

5.5.1

Installation source

Static binary from official website

Crash ID

No response

Logs

No response

[artem-astafyev]

Additional Notes:

1. Other query parameters like sub or other common parameters are not affected. The issue seems specific to the ref parameter.
2. The text of the link in the message itself remains correct; only the preview card is impacted.

[ilya-fedin]

link previews are server side

[john-preston]

I guess server attaches a web page preview without 'ref' parameters. I'm not sure if I have to override it somehow or not.

In case you attach several same links with different 'ref' parameters I'll have no way to understand which of them gave the no-'ref' link preview at all 🤔