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.