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TI-2026-29248 Aliases CVE-2026-40497

FreeScout Vulnerable to CSS Injection via Stored Style Tag in Mailbox Signature (CSRF Token Exfiltration)

Priority HIGH 70CWE-79Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
High
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Cross-site scripting
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-79.

Summary

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.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00243 15th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed freescout (freescout-help-desk): 1.8.213

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
freescout-help-deskfreescoutbefore 1.8.2131.8.213Patch availableCNA
  • freescout Vendorfreescout-help-desk Affected before 1.8.213 Fixed in 1.8.213 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 1.8.213Vulnerablefreescout-help-desk
  • cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.8.213 Vulnerable ·freescout-help-desk

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA freescout (freescout-help-desk) Fixed in 1.8.213

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-40497

References

  • 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-2024-19354 FreeScout OS Command Injection vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
See all 45 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences