diff --git a/src/lib/svg_text_utils.js b/src/lib/svg_text_utils.js
index f1b9368dc72..a253c3c6a0a 100644
--- a/src/lib/svg_text_utils.js
+++ b/src/lib/svg_text_utils.js
@@ -221,6 +221,8 @@ var TAG_STYLES = {
     em: 'font-style:italic;font-weight:bold'
 };
 
+var PROTOCOLS = ['http:', 'https:', 'mailto:'];
+
 var STRIP_TAGS = new RegExp('</?(' + Object.keys(TAG_STYLES).join('|') + ')( [^>]*)?/?>', 'g');
 
 util.plainText = function(_str){
@@ -252,7 +254,14 @@ function convertToSVG(_str){
                 if(tag === 'a'){
                     if(close) return '</a>';
                     else if(extra.substr(0,4).toLowerCase() !== 'href') return '<a>';
-                    else return '<a xlink:show="new" xlink:href' + extra.substr(4) + '>';
+                    else {
+                        var dummyAnchor = document.createElement('a');
+                        dummyAnchor.href = extra.substr(4).replace(/["'=]/g, '');
+
+                        if(PROTOCOLS.indexOf(dummyAnchor.protocol) === -1) return '<a>';
+
+                        return '<a xlink:show="new" xlink:href' + extra.substr(4) + '>';
+                    }
                 }
                 else if(tag === 'br') return '<br>';
                 else if(close) {
diff --git a/test/jasmine/tests/svg_text_utils_test.js b/test/jasmine/tests/svg_text_utils_test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4abb4692fd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/jasmine/tests/svg_text_utils_test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+var d3 = require('d3');
+
+var util = require('@src/lib/svg_text_utils');
+
+
+describe('svg+text utils', function() {
+    'use strict';
+
+    describe('convertToTspans', function() {
+
+        function mockTextSVGElement(txt) {
+            return d3.select('body')
+                .append('svg')
+                .attr('id', 'text')
+                .append('text')
+                .text(txt)
+                .call(util.convertToTspans);
+        }
+
+        afterEach(function() {
+            d3.select('#text').remove();
+        });
+
+        it('checks for XSS attack in href', function() {
+            var node = mockTextSVGElement(
+                '<a href="javascript:alert(\'attack\')">XSS</a>'
+            )
+
+            expect(node.text()).toEqual('XSS');
+            expect(node.select('a').attr('xlink:href')).toBe(null);
+        });
+
+        it('checks for XSS attack in href (with plenty of white spaces)', function() {
+            var node = mockTextSVGElement(
+                '<a href =    "     javascript:alert(\'attack\')">XSS</a>'
+            )
+
+            expect(node.text()).toEqual('XSS');
+            expect(node.select('a').attr('xlink:href')).toBe(null);
+        });
+
+        it('whitelists http hrefs', function() {
+            var node = mockTextSVGElement(
+                '<a href="http://bl.ocks.org/">bl.ocks.org</a>'
+            )
+
+            expect(node.text()).toEqual('bl.ocks.org');
+            expect(node.select('a').attr('xlink:href')).toEqual('http://bl.ocks.org/');
+        });
+
+        it('whitelists https hrefs', function() {
+            var node = mockTextSVGElement(
+                '<a href="https://plot.ly">plot.ly</a>'
+            )
+
+            expect(node.text()).toEqual('plot.ly');
+            expect(node.select('a').attr('xlink:href')).toEqual('https://plot.ly');
+        });
+
+        it('whitelists mailto hrefs', function() {
+            var node = mockTextSVGElement(
+                '<a href="mailto:support@plot.ly">support</a>'
+            )
+
+            expect(node.text()).toEqual('support');
+            expect(node.select('a').attr('xlink:href')).toEqual('mailto:support@plot.ly');
+        });
+    });
+});