CVE-2026-40496
9.1 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2026-40496 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting freescout freescout. It was published on April 21, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.213, attachment download tokens are generated using a weak and predictable formula: `md5(APP_KEY + attachment_id + size)`. Since attachment_id is sequential and size can be brute-forced in a small range, an unauthenticated attacker can forge valid tokens and download any private attachment without credentials. Version 1.8.213 fixes the issue.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from freescout. Update freescout to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| freescout | freescout | >= 0, < 1.8.213 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-40496?
CVE-2026-40496 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting freescout freescout. It was published on April 21, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2026-40496?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2026-40496?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from freescout. Update freescout to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2026-40496?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-40496 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
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