CVE-2025-48481: freescout — Exploit & Fix

Description

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.180, an attacker with an unactivated email invitation containing invite_hash, can exploit this vulnerability to self-activate their account, despite it being blocked or deleted, by leveraging the invitation link from the email to gain initial access to the account. This issue has been patched in version 1.8.180.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

9.8

CRITICAL

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-841 CWE-841

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
freescout	freescout	< 1.8.180

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-jgj2-x749-5wc7

Exploits

https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-jgj2-x749-5wc7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-48481? +

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.180, an attacker with an unactivated email invitation containing invite_hash, can exploit this vulnerability to self-activate their account, despite it being blocked or deleted, by leveraging the invitation link from the email to gain initial access to the account. This issue has been patched in version 1.8.180. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

How severe is CVE-2025-48481? +

CVE-2025-48481 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 out of 10, rated CRITICAL. This is a critical vulnerability that should be patched immediately.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-48481? +

CVE-2025-48481 affects products from freescout, specifically: freescout. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-48481? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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