CVE-2026-40568: FreeScout Vulnerable to XSS via Mailbox Signature Due to Incomplete HTML Sanitization

Published Apr 21, 2026
·
Updated

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Versions prior to 1.8.213 have a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the mailbox signature feature. The sanitization function Helper::stripDangerousTags() (app/Misc/Helper.php:568) uses an incomplete blocklist of only four HTML tags (script, form, iframe, object) and does not remove event handler attributes. When a mailbox signature is saved via MailboxesController::updateSave() (app/Http/Controllers/MailboxesController.php:267), HTML elements such as <img>, <svg>, and <details> with event handler attributes like onerror and onload pass through sanitization unchanged and are stored in the database. The signature is then rendered as raw HTML via the Blade {!! !!} tag in editorbottomtoolbar.blade.php:6 and re-inserted into the visible DOM by jQuery .html() at main.js:1789-1790, triggering the injected event handlers. Any authenticated user with the ACCESSPERMSIGNATURE (sig) permission on a mailbox -- a delegatable, non-admin permission -- can inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript into the mailbox signature. The payload fires automatically, with no victim interaction, whenever any agent or administrator opens any conversation in the affected mailbox. This enables session hijacking (under CSP bypass conditions such as IE11 or module-weakened CSP), phishing overlays that work in all browsers regardless of CSP, and chaining to admin-level actions including email exfiltration via mass assignment and self-propagating worm behavior across all mailboxes. Version 1.8.213 fixes the issue.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Freescout freescout<1.8.213

Event History

Apr 21, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·04:08 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·04:08 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·05:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-40568?

CVE-2026-40568 is classified as a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability with a high severity due to the potential for an attacker to execute scripts in the context of a user's session.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-40568?

To fix CVE-2026-40568, upgrade FreeScout to version 1.8.213 or later, where the HTML sanitization issues have been addressed.

3

What versions of FreeScout are affected by CVE-2026-40568?

FreeScout versions prior to 1.8.213 are affected by CVE-2026-40568.

4

What is the impact of CVE-2026-40568 on users?

The impact of CVE-2026-40568 allows attackers to inject malicious scripts via the mailbox signature feature, potentially compromising user data and sessions.

5

How can I mitigate CVE-2026-40568 if I cannot upgrade immediately?

If immediate upgrade to version 1.8.213 is not possible, consider disabling the mailbox signature feature until the update can be applied.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
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