Secure Access: Incorrect Default Permissions
CVE-2025-49084 is a critical-severity incorrect default permissions vulnerability in Secure Access from Absolutee Security, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 13.56 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 0.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update Secure Access to 13.56 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on absolute.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolutee Security | Secure Access | before 13.56 | 13.56 |
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
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- 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:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 5.3 | Medium | CNA (netmotionsoftware.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
CVE-2025-49084 is a vulnerability in the management console of Absolute Secure Access prior to version 13.56. Attackers with administrative access can overwrite policy rules without the requisite permissions. The attack complexity is low, attack requirements are present, privileges required are high and no user interaction is required. There is no impact to confidentiality, the impact to integrity is low, and there is no impact to availability. The impact to confidentiality and availability of subsequent systems is high and the impact to the integrity of subsequent systems is low.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Incorrect Default Permissions
During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- The architecture needs to access and modification attributes for files to only those users who actually require those actions.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
More Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerabilities (CWE-276)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Recent Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.0 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.