freescout: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing
CVE-2026-47123 is a high-severity authentication bypass by spoofing vulnerability in freescout from Freescout-help-desk, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected freescout versions: < 1.8.220. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.14% 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.
- 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 | < 1.8.220 | 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
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (github.com).
Official description
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to 1.8.220, the email processing pipeline in FreeScout's FetchEmails command has two code paths for identifying agent (user) replies based on In-Reply-To / References headers. The notification reply path (notify-{thread_id}-{user_id}-...) extracts thread_id and user_id directly from the Message-ID without HMAC verification. An external attacker who can spoof the From address of a helpdesk agent can inject messages that FreeScout processes as legitimate agent replies — which are then automatically forwarded to customers via the legitimate SMTP server. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.8.220.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing
This attack-focused weakness is caused by incorrectly implemented authentication schemes that are subject to spoofing attacks.
More Authentication Bypass by Spoofing vulnerabilities (CWE-290)
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 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 Authentication Bypass by Spoofing vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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