# CVE-2026-62850: FreeScout tools.php authentication bypass and credential enumeration

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-62850-freescout-is-a-self-hosted-help-desk-and-shared-mailbox-prior-to  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-06. Updated: 2026-11-06  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-62850 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.3 · Published 2026-11-06

FreeScout is a self-hosted help desk platform used to manage customer support and shared mailboxes. The administrative tools.php endpoint was accessible without proper authentication, allowing attackers to discover whether files exist on the server and brute-force application credentials without rate limiting, potentially leading to account takeover or unauthorized system access.

Technologies: [FreeScout](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/freescout-freescout). Vendors: [FreeScout](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/freescout).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-62850 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-62850 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-62850?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.3, published 6 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** FreeScout prior to 1.8.225.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-62850?** Yes: fixed in 1.8.225. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-62850 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-62850?** Check whether you run FreeScout at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 1.8.225

## Technical details

The tools.php maintenance endpoint lacked proper authentication and access controls, allowing unauthenticated requests to reach it. Path-based response variations leaked file system information, and the endpoint accepted unlimited authentication attempts against application keys and database passwords without rate limiting or CAPTCHA protection, enabling credential enumeration attacks.

## Affected products

- FreeScout FreeScout prior to 1.8.225

## Timeline

- 2026-11-06: disclosed

## References

- [https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/commit/8bb0594e95eab6661b4372e94ac02f62a6c3cb28](https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/commit/8bb0594e95eab6661b4372e94ac02f62a6c3cb28)
- [https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/releases/tag/1.8.225](https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/releases/tag/1.8.225)

## Related threats

- [FreeScout stored XSS in job details page](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-85742-freescout-is-a-self-hosted-help-desk-and-shared-mailbox-prior-to)
- [FreeScout authorization bypass in conversation merge](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-85744-freescout-is-a-self-hosted-help-desk-and-shared-mailbox-prior-to)
- [FreeScout SSRF in remote download and port check](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-85743-freescout-is-a-self-hosted-help-desk-and-shared-mailbox-prior-to)
- [FreeScout SQL injection in polycast receive endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-62856-freescout-is-a-self-hosted-help-desk-and-shared-mailbox)
- [FreeScout path traversal in App Logs viewer](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-62855-freescout-is-a-self-hosted-help-desk-and-shared-mailbox-prior-to)
