FreeScout has unrestricted file upload without rate limiting that leads to resource exhaustion (DoS)
Priority MEDIUM 63CWE-400Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Low
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.224, the FreeScout helpdesk application does not enforce rate limiting on the file upload endpoint. Any user can flood the server with upload requests, leading to database overload and potential denial of service for all users. Version 1.8.224 contains a fix.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00286 21st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed freescout (freescout-help-desk): 1.8.224
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 1.8.224 | 1.8.224 | Patch available | CNA |
- freescout Vendorfreescout-help-desk Affected before 1.8.224 Fixed in 1.8.224 Patch available CNA
CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1
Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | — | — | freescout-help-desk |
- cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·freescout-help-desk
Remediation
- Fix · CNA freescout (freescout-help-desk) Fixed in 1.8.224
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53596
References
More freescout-help-desk vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-38652 FreeScout vulnerable to anonymous account takeover via /user-setup empty invite_hash on MySQL CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.4
- TI-2026-22019 FreeScout's Predictable Authentication Token Enables Account Takeover CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-30304 FreeScout's user invitation hash never expires: permanent unauthenticated account takeover if invite link leaks CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- 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-2026-38648 FreeScout Vulnerable to Unauthenticated Conversation Thread Injection via HMAC Length Bypass in FetchEmails CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences