Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) Improper Authentication
CVE-2025-32975 is a critical-severity improper authentication vulnerability in Kace Systems Management Appliance from Quest, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 13.0.385, 13.1.81, 13.2.183 as the first without the flaw, so updating Kace Systems Management Appliance to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on April 20, 2026, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Kace Systems Management Appliance to 13.0.385 or 13.1.81 or 13.2.183 or 14.0.341, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Read the advisory on support.quest.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quest | Kace Systems Management Appliance | 13.0 up to, but not including, 13.0.385; 13.1 up to, but not including, 13.1.81; 13.2 up to, but not including, 13.2.183; 14.0 up to, but not including, 14.0.341; 14.1 up to, but not including, 14.1.101 | 13.0.385, 13.1.81, 13.2.183, 14.0.341, 14.1.101 |
Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).
Official description
Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) 13.0.x before 13.0.385, 13.1.x before 13.1.81, 13.2.x before 13.2.183, 14.0.x before 14.0.341 (Patch 5), and 14.1.x before 14.1.101 (Patch 4) contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users without valid credentials. The vulnerability exists in the SSO authentication handling mechanism and can lead to complete administrative takeover.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jun/22Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- seralys.com/research/CVE-2025-32975.txtThird Party Advisory
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2025/Jun/25Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-32975US Government Resource
Other vulnerabilities in Kace Systems Management Appliance
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 10.0 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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