CVE-2026-27637
FreeScout's Predictable Authentication Token Enables Account Takeover
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.206, FreeScout's TokenAuth middleware uses a predictable authentication token computed as MD5(user_id + created_at + APP_KEY). This token is static (never expires/rotates), and if an attacker obtains the APP_KEY — a well-documented and common exposure vector in Laravel applications — they can compute a valid token for any user, including the administrator, achieving full account takeover without any password. This vulnerability can be exploited on its own or in combination with CVE-2026-27636. Version 1.8.206 fixes both vulnerabilities.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
9.8
FreeScout's Predictable Authentication Token Enables Account Takeover
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.206, FreeScout's TokenAuth middleware uses a predictable authentication token computed as MD5(user_id + created_at + APP_KEY). This token is static (never expires/rotates), and if an attacker obtains the APP_KEY — a well-documented and common exposure vector in Laravel applications — they can compute a valid token for any user, including the administrator, achieving full account takeover without any password. This vulnerability can be exploited on its own or in combination with CVE-2026-27636. Version 1.8.206 fixes both vulnerabilities.
- Record
CVE-2026-27637- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-330
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-8611
9.8
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.206, FreeScout's TokenAuth middleware uses a predictable authentication token computed as MD5(user_id + created_at + APP_KEY). This token is static (never expires/rotates), and if an attacker obtains the APP_KEY — a well-documented and common exposure vector in Laravel applications — they can compute a valid token for any user, including the administrator, achieving full account takeover without any password. This vulnerability can be exploited on its own or in combination with CVE-2026-27636. Version 1.8.206 fixes both vulnerabilities.
- Record
EUVD-2026-8611- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
9.8
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.206, FreeScout's TokenAuth middleware uses a predictable authentication token computed as MD5(user_id + created_at + APP_KEY). This token is static (never expires/rotates), and if an attacker obtains the APP_KEY — a well-documented and common exposure vector in Laravel applications — they can compute a valid token for any user, including the administrator, achieving full account takeover without any password. This vulnerability can be exploited on its own or in combination with CVE-2026-27636. Version 1.8.206 fixes both vulnerabilities.
- Record
CVE-2026-27637- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-330
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
9.8
FreeScout's Predictable Authentication Token Enables Account Takeover
FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.206, FreeScout's TokenAuth middleware uses a predictable authentication token computed as MD5(user_id + created_at + APP_KEY). This token is static (never expires/rotates), and if an attacker obtains the APP_KEY — a well-documented and common exposure vector in Laravel applications — they can compute a valid token for any user, including the administrator, achieving full account takeover without any password. This vulnerability can be exploited on its own or in combination with CVE-2026-27636. Version 1.8.206 fixes both vulnerabilities.
- Record
CVE-2026-27637- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-330
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-27637 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Freescout, published February 25, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.76%, the 55th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-6gcm-v8xf-j9v9
github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-mw88-x7j3-74vc
github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/commit/004a8231f6e413af1d4680930b0e2342fd4283f9
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/27xxx/CVE-2026-27637.json
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27637