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Freescout CVE-2026-53593

| EUVDEUVD-2026-46083 HIGH
Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434)
2026-07-20 GitHub_M
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: GitHub_M
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File type validation, storage isolation
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Command and Control, Persistence

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

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Jul 20, 2026

Authenticated remote code execution in FreeScout help desk prior to version 1.8.224 allows any logged-in agent to upload a malicious .pht file that executes as PHP on the default Apache plus libapache2-mod-php stack, yielding arbitrary command execution as the www-data user. The flaw is a denylist bypass: the restricted-extension filter added by the earlier CVE-2025-48471 fix blocked phtml and phar but missed .pht (as well as .phtm and .phps), which Apache's default FilesMatch handler still runs as PHP. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing is identified at time of analysis, but the technique is well understood and low-complexity given a valid agent account.

Affected VersionsENISA

freescout < 1.8.224

Affected Packages

euvd freescout fix: 1.8.224

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

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

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (GitHub_M) PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from Vendor (GitHub_M) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: GitHub_M

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Jul 20, 2026 - 21:17 EUVD
CVE Published
Jul 20, 2026 - 19:52 cve.org
HIGH 8.8

DescriptionCVE.org

FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.224, the denylist that neutralizes dangerous file uploads (Helper::$restricted_extensions) is incomplete: it does not cover the .pht extension. The authenticated upload endpoint POST /uploads/upload (SecureController@upload) stores files with their original extension into the web-accessible directory storage/app/public/uploads/ (served at /storage/uploads/). On the standard Apache + libapache2-mod-php deployment, the default handler <FilesMatch ".+\.ph(ar|p[3457]?|t|tml)$"> executes .pht, so any authenticated agent can upload a .pht web shell and run arbitrary commands as the web-server user (www-data). This is a direct bypass of the fix for CVE-2025-48471, which added phtml/phar but not pht (nor phtm, phps). Version 1.8.224 contains an updated fix.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

FreeScout help desk software versions prior to 1.8.224 allow authenticated support agents to upload malicious files that execute arbitrary server commands, exposing customer data and creating a pivot point for attackers to breach connected internal systems. The vulnerability stems from an incomplete file-type filter that missed .pht, .phtm, and .phps extensions recognized by Apache's default handler.

Recommended Action

Within 24 hours: inventory all FreeScout deployments, confirm versions below 1.8.224, disable file upload functionality in affected systems, and audit access logs for suspicious file uploads from agent accounts. Within 7 days: implement file-type detection and alerting rules for .pht/.phtm/.phps uploads, restrict file upload permissions to a minimal trusted set of agents, and test your upgrade procedure on a non-production instance. Within 30 days: upgrade all affected FreeScout instances to version 1.8.224 or later, validate file upload restrictions post-upgrade, and perform security testing to confirm the filter now properly blocks all executable extensions.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch: upgrade to FreeScout 1.8.224 or later. Interim mitigations: restrict file upload permissions to essential administrators only, implement Web Application Firewall rules blocking .pht/.phtm/.phps uploads, maintain detailed audit logs of all file uploads, monitor for failed authentication attempts on agent accounts, and consider disabling file uploads entirely until patched if uploads are infrequently used.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 80% exploitable
Data Quality
7 sources
Confidence: High
EUVD NVD CVE.org EPSS Vulnrichment GitHub VulDB

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 No
EPSS 0.3%
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
Scheduled
Exploitation
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

44
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Malicious file upload attacks exploit insufficient validation when web applications accept user-provided files.

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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