Secure Access: Mismatched Memory Management Routines
CVE-2025-49080 is a high-severity mismatched memory management routines vulnerability in Secure Access from Absolute Security, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 13.54 as the first without the flaw, so updating Secure Access to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.39% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Secure Access to 13.54 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on absolute.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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Security | Secure Access | 9.0 up to, but not including, 13.54 | 13.54 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. 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
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.7 | High | CNA (netmotionsoftware.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
There is a memory management vulnerability in Absolute Secure Access server versions 9.0 to 13.54. Attackers with network access to the server can cause a Denial of Service by sending a specially crafted sequence of packets to the server. The attack complexity is low, there are no attack requirements, privileges, or user interaction required. Loss of availability is high; there is no impact on confidentiality or integrity.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Mismatched Memory Management Routines
The product attempts to return a memory resource to the system, but it calls a release function that is not compatible with the function that was originally used to allocate that resource.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Only call matching memory management functions. Do not mix and match routines. For example, when you allocate a buffer with malloc(), dispose of the original pointer with free().
- Choose a language or tool that provides automatic memory management, or makes manual memory management less error-prone. For example, glibc in Linux provides protection against free of invalid pointers. When using Xcode to target OS X or iOS, enable automatic reference counting (ARC). To help correctly and consistently manage memory when programming in C++, consider using a smart pointer class such as std
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, glibc in Linux provides protection against free of invalid pointers.
More Mismatched Memory Management Routines vulnerabilities (CWE-762)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Secure Access
- 9.4 Critical severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Mismatched Memory Management Routines vulnerabilities
- 7.4 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.