CVE-2025-26850CWE-863

The agent in Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) before 14.0.97 and 14.1.x before 14.1.19 potentially allows privilege escalation on managed systems

Critical · published July 4, 2025

CVSS v3.1
9.3
EPSS
0%
Percentile
7.4
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A privilege escalation vulnerability in the Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance can turn managed systems into playgrounds for attackers! 🔥 Think of it like a hotel that forgot to check IDs at the front desk — anyone could walk in and access the VIP lounge without a valid reservation. This flaw lets attackers elevate their permissions on managed systems, bypassing important security controls. An attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive areas of the system, effectively allowing them to control, modify, or steal critical data. This could lead to devastating consequences for organizations, ranging from data breaches to complete system compromise.

Put simply

Think of it like a hotel that forgot to check IDs at the front desk — anyone could walk in and access the VIP lounge without a valid reservation. This flaw lets attackers elevate their permissions on managed systems, bypassing important security controls. This vulnerability allows users with limited privileges to escalate their access rights on managed systems due to a flaw in the Quest KACE agent prior to versions 14.0.97 and 14.1.19.

What to do

An attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive areas of the system, effectively allowing them to control, modify, or steal critical data. This could lead to devastating consequences for organizations, ranging from data breaches to complete system compromise. Immediate action is required! Update your Quest KACE SMA to version 14.0.97 or 14.1.19 and ensure that your security settings are properly configured to prevent unauthorized access. Regular audits of permissions can further bolster your defenses. You've got this! By taking these steps, you'll be well on your way to securing your systems! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.3 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00182 · 7.4th percentile
Weakness
CWE-863 · Incorrect Authorization
Published
2025-07-04T00:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 04 JUL 00:00Z
    The agent in Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance (SMA) before 14.0.97 and 14.1.x before 14.1.19 potentially allows privilege escalation on managed systems
    cvelistv5