freescout: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2026-103985 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in freescout from Freescout-help-desk, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected freescout versions: < 1.8.231. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.3% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
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.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freescout-help-desk | freescout | < 1.8.231 | 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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- 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
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
FreeScout is a self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to 1.8.231, the profile form exposes the only_assigned_tickets permission to its non-admin owner, and UsersController::profileSave() adds or removes User::PERM_ONLY_ASSIGNED_TICKETS without checking that the editor is an administrator. A restricted agent can uncheck the option, or submit an ordinary profile save that omits it, to remove the administrator-imposed restriction. The agent can then read and modify conversations assigned to other agents in every mailbox they already belong to. This issue is fixed in version 1.8.231.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in freescout
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 9.4 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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