freescout: Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow
CVE-2025-48481 is a critical-severity improper enforcement of behavioral workflow vulnerability in freescout from Freescout-help-desk, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected freescout versions: < 1.8.180. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.57% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of freescout you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freescout-help-desk | freescout | < 1.8.180 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 6.1 | Medium | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.180, an attacker with an unactivated email invitation containing invite_hash, can exploit this vulnerability to self-activate their account, despite it being blocked or deleted, by leveraging the invitation link from the email to gain initial access to the account. This issue has been patched in version 1.8.180.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow
The product supports a session in which more than one behavior must be performed by an actor, but it does not properly ensure that the actor performs the behaviors in the required sequence or timeframe.
More Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow vulnerabilities (CWE-841)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in freescout
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.4 Critical severity
Recent Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
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