CVE-2026-28289

FreeScout 1.8.206 Patch Bypass for CVE-2026-27636 via Zero-Width Space Character Leads to Remote Code Execution

HIGH
8.1
CVSS Score
Published: March 3, 2026 at 10:59 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 10:28 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsFreescoutFreescout

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Severity
HIGH8.1
Exploit prediction
EPSS 35%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. A patch bypass vulnerability for CVE-2026-27636 in FreeScout 1.8.206 and earlier allows any authenticated user with file upload permissions to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) on the server by uploading a malicious .htaccess file using a zero-width space character prefix to bypass the security check. The vulnerability exists in the sanitizeUploadedFileName() function in app/Http/Helper.php. The function contains a Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) flaw where the dot-prefix check occurs before sanitization removes invisible characters. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.8.207.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 1.8.207
v < 1.8.207
Affected range stops below 1.8.207, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

References (3)

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitMitigationVendor Advisory
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-5gpc-65p8-ffwp
ExploitVendor Advisory
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
https://www.ox.security/blog/freescout-rce-cve-2026-28289/

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitAutomatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
HIGH
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-434

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