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CVE-2026-40568

FreeScout Vulnerable to XSS via Mailbox Signature Due to Incomplete HTML Sanitization

Published: Apr 21, 2026Updated: Apr 21, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVD
8.5CVSS
HIGH

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Versions prior to 1.8.213 have a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the mailbox signature feature. The sanitization function `Helper::stripDangerousTags()` (`app/Misc/Helper.php:568`) uses an incomplete blocklist of only four HTML tags (`script`, `form`, `iframe`, `object`) and does not remove event handler attributes. When a mailbox signature is saved via `MailboxesController::updateSave()` (`app/Http/Controllers/MailboxesController.php:267`), HTML elements such as `<img>`, `<svg>`, and `<details>` with event handler attributes like `onerror` and `onload` pass through sanitization unchanged and are stored in the database. The signature is then rendered as raw HTML via the Blade `{!! !!}` tag in `editor_bottom_toolbar.blade.php:6` and re-inserted into the visible DOM by jQuery `.html()` at `main.js:1789-1790`, triggering the injected event handlers. Any authenticated user with the `ACCESS_PERM_SIGNATURE` (`sig`) permission on a mailbox -- a delegatable, non-admin permission -- can inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript into the mailbox signature. The payload fires automatically, with no victim interaction, whenever any agent or administrator opens any conversation in the affected mailbox. This enables session hijacking (under CSP bypass conditions such as IE11 or module-weakened CSP), phishing overlays that work in all browsers regardless of CSP, and chaining to admin-level actions including email exfiltration via mass assignment and self-propagating worm behavior across all mailboxes. Version 1.8.213 fixes the issue.

EPSS Score
N/A
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
No Fix Available

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:NAC:LPR:LUI:NS:CC:HI:LA:N
Exploitability
AV:NAttack Vector
Network
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:LPrivileges Required
Low
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:CScope
Changed
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:LIntegrity
Low
A:NAvailability
None

Weaknesses

Affected Products

freescout
freescout-help-desk

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

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Exploitability

No known exploits, KEV entries, or remediation guidance available for this vulnerability yet.

MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Execution
Initial Access
View detailed technique mapping

References

Timeline

Published
Apr 21, 2026
Last Updated
Apr 21, 2026

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