FreeScout's Predictable Authentication Token Enables Account Takeover
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.206, FreeScout's `TokenAuth` middleware uses a predictable authentication token computed as `MD5(user_id + created_at + APP_KEY)`. This token is static (never expires/rotates), and if an attacker obtains the `APP_KEY` — a well-documented and common exposure vector in Laravel applications — they can compute a valid token for any user, including the administrator, achieving full account takeover without any password. This vulnerability can be exploited on its own or in combination with CVE-2026-27636. Version 1.8.206 fixes both vulnerabilities.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- 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 1.8.206 | 1.8.206 | Patch available | CNA |
- freescout Vendorfreescout-help-desk Affected before 1.8.206 Fixed in 1.8.206 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.8.206 | Vulnerable | freescout-help-desk |
- cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.8.206 Vulnerable ·freescout-help-desk
Remediation
- Fix · CNA freescout (freescout-help-desk) Fixed in 1.8.206
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-27637
References
More freescout-help-desk Freescout vulnerabilities
- 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-2024-19354 FreeScout OS Command Injection vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- 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