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Freescout CVE-2025-48390

HIGH
Code Injection (CWE-94)
2025-05-29 security-advisories@github.com
8.6
CVSS 4.0 · GitHub Advisory
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Code injection prevention, sandbox exec
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 8.6 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 1.34%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could inject and execute arbitrary code within the application by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 1.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.6), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Never evaluate user-controlled input as code. Use sandboxing, disable dangerous functions, apply strict input validation.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Code Injection (CWE-94), which allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the application. FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.178, FreeScout is vulnerable to code injection due to insufficient validation of user input in the php_path parameter. The backticks characters are not removed, as well as tabulation is not removed. When checking user input, the file_exists function is also called to check for the presence of such a file (folder) in the file system. A user with the administrator role can create a translation for the language, which will create a folder in the file system. Further in tools.php, the user can specify the path to this folder as php_path, which will lead to the execution of code in backticks. This issue has been patched in version 1.8.178. Affected products include: Freescout. Version information: version 1.8.178.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

GitHub Advisory PRIMARY 8.6 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from GitHub Advisory · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

3
Patch released
Mar 28, 2026 - 18:44 nvd
Patch available
PoC Detected
Jul 11, 2025 - 15:28 vuln.today
Public exploit code
CVE Published
May 29, 2025 - 16:15 nvd
HIGH 8.6

DescriptionGitHub Advisory

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.178, FreeScout is vulnerable to code injection due to insufficient validation of user input in the php_path parameter. The backticks characters are not removed, as well as tabulation is not removed. When checking user input, the file_exists function is also called to check for the presence of such a file (folder) in the file system. A user with the administrator role can create a translation for the language, which will create a folder in the file system. Further in tools.php, the user can specify the path to this folder as php_path, which will lead to the execution of code in backticks. This issue has been patched in version 1.8.178.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Organizations using FreeScout face significant risk from CVE-2025-48390, a code injection vulnerability rated CVSS 8.6. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or commands on affected systems, potentially leading to full system compromise. Proof-of-concept code is publicly available, increasing the risk of exploitation. A patch is available and should be applied as part of regular vulnerability management.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Deploy WAF rules to block injection patterns; (2) Restrict network access to affected components; (3) Enable enhanced logging for suspicious activity.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.3%
Top 20% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 1.3%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Very High

Priority Score

64
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +43
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Code Injection CRITICAL

Code injection occurs when an application accepts user input and passes it directly into a language interpreter or evaluator without proper sanitization.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)GitHub Advisory

cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2026-28289 CRITICAL POC
10.0 Mar 03

File upload bypass in FreeScout 1.8.206 — patch bypass for CVE-2026-27636. PoC and patch available. CVSS 10.0.

CVE-2026-27636 HIGH POC
8.8 Feb 25

Remote code execution in FreeScout prior to version 1.8.206 allows authenticated users to upload `.htaccess` files that

CVE-2026-27637 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 25

Predictable password reset tokens in FreeScout help desk before 1.8.206. Weak random number generation allows attackers

CVE-2026-53595 CRITICAL POC
9.4 Jul 20

Anonymous account takeover in FreeScout help desk before 1.8.224 lets an unauthenticated attacker seize the lowest-id ac

CVE-2024-29185 CRITICAL POC
9.0 Mar 22

FreeScout is a self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.0), this vulnerability is remot

CVE-2025-58163 HIGH POC
8.6 Sep 03

FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.6), this

CVE-2024-29184 HIGH POC
8.0 Mar 22

FreeScout is a self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.0), this vulnerability is remotely

CVE-2024-28186 HIGH POC
7.1 Mar 12

FreeScout is an open source help desk and shared inbox built with PHP. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.1), this vulnerabilit

CVE-2024-34698 MEDIUM POC
6.3 May 14

FreeScout is a free, self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.3), this vulnerability is r

CVE-2024-34697 MEDIUM POC
6.1 May 14

FreeScout is a free, self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.1), this vulnerability is r

CVE-2026-32754 CRITICAL
9.3 Mar 19

A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in FreeScout help desk software versions 1.8.208 and below, whe

CVE-2026-41193 CRITICAL
9.1 Apr 21

Arbitrary file write in FreeScout (prior to 1.8.215) allows authenticated administrators to achieve remote code executio

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