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CVE-2026-40497
Published:April 21, 2026
Updated:April 23, 2026
FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.213, FreeScout's "Helper::stripDangerousTags()" removes "<script>", "<form>", "<iframe>", "<object>" but does NOT strip "<style>" tags. The mailbox signature field is saved via POST /mailbox/settings/{id} and later rendered unescaped via "{!! $conversation->getSignatureProcessed([], true) !!}" in conversation views. CSP allows "style-src * 'self' 'unsafe-inline'", so injected inline styles execute freely. An attacker with access to mailbox settings (admin or agent with mailbox permission) can inject CSS attribute selectors to exfiltrate the CSRF token of any agent/admin who views a conversation in that mailbox. With the CSRF token, the attacker can perform any state-changing action as the victim (create admin accounts, change email/password, etc.) — privilege escalation from agent to admin. This is the result of an incomplete fix of GHSA-jqjf-f566-485j. That advisory reported XSS via mailbox signature. The fix applied "Helper::stripDangerousTags()" to the signature before saving. However, "stripDangerousTags()" only removes "script", "form", "iframe", and "object" tags — it does NOT strip "<style>" tags, leaving CSS injection possible. Version 1.8.213 contains an updated fix.
Affected Packages
https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=1.0.0 <1.8.213
Fix Suggestion:
Update to version 1.8.213
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CVSS v4
Base Score:
9.2
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
HIGH
User Interaction
PASSIVE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
HIGH
Vulnerable System Integrity
HIGH
Vulnerable System Availability
NONE
Subsequent System Confidentiality
HIGH
Subsequent System Integrity
HIGH
Subsequent System Availability
NONE
CVSS v3
Base Score:
8.1
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
HIGH
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Weakness Type (CWE)
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
EPSS
Base Score:
0.03