CVE-2025-48488: freescout XSS — Exploit & Fix

Description

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.180, deleting the file .htaccess allows an attacker to upload an HTML file containing malicious JavaScript code to the server, which can result in a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. This issue has been patched in version 1.8.180.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

5.4

MEDIUM

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

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting (XSS)

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
freescout	freescout	< 1.8.180

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-2m76-538h-7hf9

Exploits

https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-2m76-538h-7hf9

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-48488? +

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.180, deleting the file .htaccess allows an attacker to upload an HTML file containing malicious JavaScript code to the server, which can result in a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. This issue has been patched in version 1.8.180. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2025-48488? +

CVE-2025-48488 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.4 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-48488? +

CVE-2025-48488 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-2025-48488? +

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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CVE-2025-48488