Quick answer
Direct answer
Risk scores
| CVSS metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Attack vector (AV:L) | Local access needed |
| Attack complexity (AC:L) | Low complexity |
| Attack requirements (AT:N) | No attack requirements |
| Privileges required (PR:L) | Low privileges required |
| User interaction (UI:N) | No user interaction |
| Confidentiality (VC:H) | High confidentiality impact |
| Integrity (VI:H) | High integrity impact |
| Availability (VA:H) | High availability impact |
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:L/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/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
About Absolute Secure Access
CVE-2026-40952 affects Absolute Secure Access, a product from Absolute. Before acting, confirm where Absolute Secure Access runs in your estate, who owns it and whether it is reachable from the internet, because exposure decides real risk more than the score alone.
What the flaw is
In plain terms: CVE-2026-40952 is a privilege misconfiguration in the Secure Access installer for the Windows client and server prior to version 14.55. Attackers with local access to the client or server can use it to elevate privileges to Administrator when Secure Access is installed in a non-default location.
The weakness class is Incorrect Default Permissions. Files or resources are installed with permissions that are too open.
Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw needs local or adjacent access, needs some level of access, and needs no user interaction. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.
Affected versions and timeline
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Absolute Secure Access |
| Affected versions | Secure Access before 14.55 |
| Published | Jul 15, 2026 |
| Last modified | Jul 16, 2026 |
| Added to CISA KEV | Not listed |
| Assigning CNA | SecurityResponse@netmotionsoftware.com |
How to detect it
- Inventory every instance of Absolute Secure Access and record the running version against the affected range above.
- Check external attack surface scans for internet facing instances of the component.
- Review logs on affected systems for unusual requests, errors or new processes around the vulnerable function.
- Confirm with an authenticated vulnerability scan once your scanner has a check for this CVE.
How to fix it
- Apply the fixed version of Absolute Secure Access named in the vendor advisory.
- If patching must wait, restrict network access to the affected service and put it behind authentication or a web application firewall rule.
- Rescan after the change to prove the exposure is gone, then close the ticket.
CTEM action plan
| CTEM stage | What to do for this CVE |
|---|---|
| Scope | Add every business service that depends on Absolute Secure Access to the current CTEM cycle. |
| Discover | Find all instances, including shadow and cloud deployments, and record versions and exposure. |
| Prioritize | Rank using EPSS and CVSS together with asset exposure and business impact. |
| Validate | Confirm the flaw is reachable and exploitable in your environment and that compensating controls work. |
| Mobilize | Assign the fix to the asset owner with a due date matched to the priority, then verify closure. |
CWE References
- CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions More CVEs with this weakness
Technical References
Frequently asked questions
Related CVEs
CVE-2026-33451 is an arbitrary read/write vulnerability in the Secure Access Windows client prior to 14.50. Attackers with local control of the Windows client can send malformed data to an API and elevate their level of privilege to system.
HCL BigFix Platform is affected by insecure permissions on private cryptographic keys. The private cryptographic keys located on a Windows host machine might be subject to overly permissive file system permissions.
AutoGPT is a platform that allows users to create, deploy, and manage continuous artificial intelligence agents that automate complex workflows. Prior to autogpt-platform-beta-v0.6.44, AutoGPT Platform's block execution endpoints (both main web API and external API) allow executing blocks by UUID without checking the `disabled` flag. Any authenticated user can execute the disabled `BlockInstallationBlock`, which writes arbitrary Python code to the server filesystem and executes it via `__import__()`, achieving Remote Code Execution. In default self-hosted deployments where Supabase signup is enabled, an attacker can self-register; if signup is disabled (e.g., hosted), the attacker needs an existing account. autogpt-platform-beta-v0.6.44 contains a fix.
The affected product extracts installation files to a temporary directory with incorrect default permissions during administrative installation. A low-privileged local attacker can exploit a TOCTOU race condition with a practical time window to replace verified files with malicious ones before installation, resulting in local privilege escalation.
An incorrect default permissions vulnerability in Synology Assistant before 7.0.7-50095 allows local users to read or write arbitrary files and conduct denial-of-service during installation.
Earn your free CTEM certification.
Learn to scope, prioritize, validate and mobilize fixes for CVEs like CVE-2026-40952 with a free CTEM certification.
Beginner / Practitioner / Program Leader
Explore certifications