# CVE-2026-40952: Absolute Secure Access privilege escalation in Windows installer

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40952-absolute-secure-access-privilege-escalation-in-windows-installer  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-15. Updated: 2026-07-15  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-40952 · Severity: info · CVSS 8.5 · Published 2026-07-15

Absolute Secure Access, a tool used to provide secure remote connectivity for mobile workers, contains a flaw in its Windows installer. If the software was installed in a custom folder rather than the default location, a user with low-level access to the computer could exploit incorrect file permissions to gain full Administrator control. This could allow an unauthorized person to bypass security controls, access sensitive data, or install malicious software on the affected device.

Technologies: [Absolute Security Secure Access](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/secure-access). Vendors: [Absolute Security](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/absolute-security).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-40952 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-40952 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-40952?** Informational severity, with a CVSS score of 8.5, published 15 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Absolute Security Secure Access prior to 14.55.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-40952?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-40952 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-40952?** Check whether you run Absolute Security Secure Access at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Absolute Secure Access (formerly NetMotion) installer for Windows client and server versions prior to 14.55. The flaw stems from a privilege misconfiguration (incorrect ACLs/permissions) that occurs when the software is installed in a non-default directory. A local attacker with low-privileged access can exploit these weak permissions to modify application files or configuration, leading to execution with SYSTEM or Administrator privileges. The vulnerability is addressed in version 14.55.

## Affected products

- Absolute Security (NetMotion) Secure Access prior to 14.55

## Timeline

- 2026-07-15: advisory
- 2026-07-15: disclosed

## References

- [https://www.absolute.com/platform/security-information/vulnerability-archive/cve-2026-40952](https://www.absolute.com/platform/security-information/vulnerability-archive/cve-2026-40952)

## Related threats

- [Absolute Security Secure Access resource exhaustion in publisher](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-55399-absolute-security-secure-access-resource-exhaustion-in-publisher)
- [Absolute Security Secure Access memory management denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-55398-absolute-security-secure-access-memory-management-denial-of)
- [Absolute Security Secure Access memory management DoS in server](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-33445-absolute-security-secure-access-memory-management-dos-in-server)
- [Absolute Security Secure Access memory management DoS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-33444-absolute-security-secure-access-memory-management-dos)
- [Absolute Security Secure Access input validation error in client tunnel protocol](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-40958-absolute-security-secure-access-input-validation-error-in-client)