CVE-2026-40565: FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox

Q: How do I fix CVE-2026-40565?

freescout: upgrade to 1.8.213. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2026-40565 being exploited?

CVE-2026-40565 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2026-40565 affect?

CVE-2026-40565 affects freescout. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.1). FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.213, FreeScout's linkify() function in app/Misc/Helper.php converts plain-text URLs in email bodies into HTML anchor tags without escaping double-quote chara

Q: How urgent is CVE-2026-40565?

Priority 24/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Routine

MEDIUM 6.1UPGRADE

CVE-2026-40565 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.1) affecting freescout. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.213, FreeScout's linkify() function in app/Misc/Helper.php converts plain-text URLs in email bodies into HTML anchor tags without escaping double-quote characters (") in the URL. HTMLPurifier (called first via getCleanBody()) preserves literal " characters in text nodes. linkify() then wraps URLs including those " chars inside an unescaped href="..." attribute, bre

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.1 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.2% (top 90%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-79
Published	2026-04-21
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): GitHub, Inc. · Vendor: freescout

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-04-21 16:16 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 10:45 UTCUpdated Record last modified

freescout freescout UPGRADE

Affected: < 1.8.213

Fixed in: 1.8.213

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy freescout || rpm -q freescout || freescout --version

2. UPGRADE to 1.8.213 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade freescout

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade freescout

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-40565?

freescout: upgrade to 1.8.213. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-40565 being exploited?

CVE-2026-40565 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2026-40565 affect?

CVE-2026-40565 affects freescout. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.1). FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.213, FreeScout's linkify() function in app/Misc/Helper.php converts plain-text URLs in email bodies into HTML anchor tags without escaping double-quote chara

How urgent is CVE-2026-40565?

Priority 24/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-40498 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox
CVE-2026-40497 HIGH 8.1 UPGRADE FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox
CVE-2026-40496 CRITICAL 9.1 UPGRADE FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox

References

← Back to latest CVEs