CVE-2026-53595

What it is

FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.224, the public endpoint `POST /user-setup/{hash}/{invite_sent_at}` (`OpenController@userSetupSave`) selects the target account solely by its `invite_hash` column, then overwrites that account's email and password and logs in as it. No authentication, cookie, or prior session is required. After a user activates, FreeScout sets `invite_hash` to the empty string. On MySQL and MariaDB, `VARCHAR` equality ignores trailing spaces, so a single URL-encoded space (`%20`) matches the stored empty string and selects the lowest-id activated user. The expiry guard decrypts `invite_sent_at` with the target's password hash, but `Helper::decrypt` returns its raw input unchanged when decryption fails. A plaintext numeric value such as `9999999999` therefore passes the time-to-live check without any secret. The result is that an anonymous attacker sets the email and password of the lowest-id activated FreeScout account (a support agent, or an administrator if one was added by invitation) and authenticates as that account. Version 1.8.224 contains a fix.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering.

Exploit odds

1.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2026-07-20 21:16 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-24 20:10 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 1.9% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 9.4 CRITICAL (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2026-07-20 21:16 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-24 20:10 UTC

Exploit probability

1.9% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-178

Record status

Deferred

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 9.4

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

Low

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-53595.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-53595. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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