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Description

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.213, FreeScout's `Helper::stripDangerousTags()` removes `<script>`, `<form>`, `<iframe>`, `<object>` but does NOT strip `<style>` tags. The mailbox signature field is saved via POST /mailbox/settings/{id} and later rendered unescaped via `{!! $conversation->getSignatureProcessed([], true) !!}` in conversation views. CSP allows `style-src * 'self' 'unsafe-inline'`, so injected inline styles execute freely. An attacker with access to mailbox settings (admin or agent with mailbox permission) can inject CSS attribute selectors to exfiltrate the CSRF token of any agent/admin who views a conversation in that mailbox. With the CSRF token, the attacker can perform any state-changing action as the victim (create admin accounts, change email/password, etc.) — privilege escalation from agent to admin. This is the result of an incomplete fix of GHSA-jqjf-f566-485j. That advisory reported XSS via mailbox signature. The fix applied `Helper::stripDangerousTags()` to the signature before saving. However, `stripDangerousTags()` only removes `script`, `form`, `iframe`, and `object` tags — it does NOT strip `<style>` tags, leaving CSS injection possible. Version 1.8.213 contains an updated fix.

PUBLISHED Reserved 2026-04-13 | Published 2026-04-21 | Updated 2026-04-21 | Assigner GitHub_M




HIGH: 8.1CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

Problem types

CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

Product status

< 1.8.213
affected

References

github.com/...escout/security/advisories/GHSA-fh99-wr77-pxq3

github.com/...ommit/5aa8d633216f65995e80a7d4a921b784acc94df4

github.com/...scout-help-desk/freescout/releases/tag/1.8.213

cve.org (CVE-2026-40497)

nvd.nist.gov (CVE-2026-40497)

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