CVE-2026-27636: freescout · Unrestricted File Upload
Affects freescoutSource CVE Database V5
Mentioned vulnerabilities
Public exploit available (Metasploit) · CVSS 8.8 High : upgrade to 1.8.206 as a priority.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 06:59 UTC
- EPSS
- 2.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 82% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 1.8.206
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Feb 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: evidence found.
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade freescout and freescout-help-desk/freescout to 1.8.206.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| freescout-help-deskfreescout | Affected
| Fixed in
|
GitHubfreescout-help-desk/freescoutpkg:github/freescout-help-desk/freescoutOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Organizations should immediately upgrade FreeScout to version 1.8.206 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. If upgrading is not immediately possible, administrators should implement the following mitigations: 1) Restrict file upload types explicitly to exclude .htaccess, .user.ini, and other potentially dangerous files at the application level. 2) Harden Apache configurations by limiting or disabling AllowOverride directives, ideally setting AllowOverride None to prevent .htaccess files from overriding server settings. 3) Implement strict access controls and monitoring on upload directories to detect and prevent unauthorized file uploads. 4) Enforce strong authentication mechanisms and monitor for suspicious login activity to reduce risk of credential compromise. 5) Use web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block malicious upload attempts. 6) Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on file upload functionalities. 7) Educate users about the risks of credential sharing and phishing to reduce the chance of attacker authentication.
Description
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.206, FreeScout's file upload restriction list in `app/Misc/Helper.php` does not include `.htaccess` or `.user.ini` files. On Apache servers with `AllowOverride All` (a common configuration), an authenticated user can upload a `.htaccess` file to redefine how files are processed, enabling Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability can be exploited on its own or in combination with CVE-2026-27637. Version 1.8.206 fixes both vulnerabilities.
References
- github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-mw88-x7j3-74vc (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-6gcm-v8xf-j9v9 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/commit/9984071e6f1b4e633fdcffcea82bbebc9c1e009c (opens in a new tab)