FreeScout OS Command Injection vulnerability
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
FreeScout is a self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Versions prior to 1.8.128 are vulnerable to OS Command Injection in the /public/tools.php source file. The value of the php_path parameter is being executed as an OS command by the shell_exec function, without validating it. This allows an adversary to execute malicious OS commands on the server. A practical demonstration of the successful command injection attack extracted the /etc/passwd file of the server. This represented the complete compromise of the server hosting the FreeScout application. This attack requires an attacker to know the `App_Key` of the application. This limitation makes the Attack Complexity to be High. If an attacker gets hold of the `App_Key`, the attacker can compromise the Complete server on which the application is deployed. Version 1.8.128 contains a patch for this issue.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freescout-help-desk | freescout | before 1.8.128 | 1.8.128 | Patch available | CNA |
- freescout Vendorfreescout-help-desk Affected before 1.8.128 Fixed in 1.8.128 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.8.128 | Vulnerable | freescout-help-desk |
- cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.8.128 Vulnerable ·freescout-help-desk
Remediation
- Fix · CNA freescout (freescout-helpdesk) Fixed in 1.8.128
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-29185
References
More freescout-help-desk Freescout vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-22019 FreeScout's Predictable Authentication Token Enables Account Takeover CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-29249 FreeScout has Authentication Bypass and Information Disclosure in SystemController via /system/cron CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.9
- TI-2026-29247 FreeScout has Predictable Attachment Token that Allows Unauthenticated Private File Download via Brute Force CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-25245 FreeScout: Stored XSS via Unescaped Email Template Rendering ({!! $thread->body !!}) CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-22596 FreeScout 1.8.206 Patch Bypass for CVE-2026-27636 via Zero-Width Space Character Leads to Remote Code Execution CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-22018 FreeScout: Missing .htaccess in Restricted File Extensions Allows Remote Code Execution on Apache CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences