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Freerdp CVE-2026-26986

HIGH
Use After Free (CWE-416)
2026-02-25 security-advisories@github.com
Windows Red Hat Freerdp Suse
7.5
CVSS 3.1 · GitHub Advisory
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Initiate RDP connection to FreeRDP server
  2. Exploit
    Trigger title allocation failure in xf_rail_window_common
  3. Execution
    Dereference freed xfAppWindow pointer
  4. Impact
    Cause denial of service on disconnect

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-416
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Memory lifecycle management
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Exploitation Conditions

FreeRDP versions prior to 3.23.0 with RAIL (Remote Application Integrated Locally) window management enabled. Remote unauthenticated attacker can exploit via crafted RDP protocol messages during active session, no authentication required.
Impact

CVSS 7.5 (HIGH). Attack vector: Network. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: None. User interaction: None. Exploitable via remote/network. Public exploit/POC available.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. [CVSS 7.5 HIGH]

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available — apply it immediately. Restrict network access to the affected service where possible.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-416 (Use After Free). Affects Freerdp. FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, rail_window_free dereferences a freed xfAppWindow pointer during HashTable_Free cleanup because xf_rail_window_common calls free(appWindow) on title allocation failure without first removing the entry from the railWindows hash table, leaving a dangling pointer that is freed again on disconnect. Version 3.23.0 fixes the vulnerability.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source

GitHub Advisory PRIMARY 7.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
SUSE HIGH
Red Hat 5.3 MEDIUM

Primary rating from GitHub Advisory.

CVSS VectorGitHub Advisory

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

3
PoC Detected
Feb 27, 2026 - 19:11 vuln.today
Public exploit code
Patch released
Feb 27, 2026 - 19:11 nvd
Patch available
CVE Published
Feb 25, 2026 - 22:16 nvd
HIGH 7.5

DescriptionGitHub Advisory

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, rail_window_free dereferences a freed xfAppWindow pointer during HashTable_Free cleanup because xf_rail_window_common calls free(appWindow) on title allocation failure without first removing the entry from the railWindows hash table, leaving a dangling pointer that is freed again on disconnect. Version 3.23.0 fixes the vulnerability.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-26986 affects FreeRDP, an open-source remote desktop client used in enterprise environments for secure remote access. Organizations using FreeRDP are at risk of unauthorized access and potential lateral movement if systems are not patched, particularly in hybrid and remote work environments where RDP is critical infrastructure.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 79% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium
NVD CVE.org EPSS Vendor GitHub VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

58
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +38
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Affected Products (CPE)GitHub Advisory

cpe:2.3:a:freerdp:freerdp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More in Freerdp

View all
CVE-2026-25997 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 25

Use-after-free in FreeRDP xf_clipboard_format_equal before 3.23.0. Clipboard format comparison uses freed memory. Fifth

CVE-2026-25953 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 25

Use-after-free in FreeRDP xf_AppUpdateWindowFromSurface before 3.23.0. Surface-to-window update triggers memory corrupti
CVE-2026-25952 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 25

Use-after-free in FreeRDP xf_SetWindowMinMaxInfo before version 3.23.0. X11 client window management triggers memory cor
CVE-2026-25959 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 25

Use-after-free in FreeRDP xf_cliprdr_provide_data clipboard handling before 3.23.0. Clipboard data exchange triggers mem
CVE-2026-22857 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 14

FreeRDP IRP thread handler has a use-after-free where the IRP is freed by Complete() then accessed on the error path. Fi
CVE-2026-22854 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 14

FreeRDP drive read heap overflow when server-controlled read length exceeds IRP output buffer. Fixed in 3.20.1. PoC avai
CVE-2026-22852 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 14

FreeRDP client before 3.20.1 has a heap buffer overflow in AUDIN format processing. A malicious RDP server can corrupt m
CVE-2026-25955 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 25

Use-after-free in FreeRDP xf_AppUpdateWindowFromSurface before 3.23.0. Different code path from CVE-2026-25953. PoC and

CVE-2024-32041 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Apr 22

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability

CVE-2023-40574 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Aug 31

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical
CVE-2023-40569 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Aug 31

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical
CVE-2023-40567 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Aug 31

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), released under the Apache license. Rated critical

Same weakness CWE-416 – Use After Free

View all
CVE-2019-0708 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2015-5119 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2014-0322 HIGH POC
8.8
CVE-2012-4792 HIGH POC
8.8
CVE-2009-4324 HIGH POC
7.8
CVE-2015-0313 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2015-5122 CRITICAL POC
9.8
CVE-2013-2551 HIGH POC
8.8

Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: High
Product Status
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP7 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP7 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 Fixed

References

Advisories & patches
PATCH https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/commit/b4f0f0a18fe53aa8d47d062f91471f4e9c5e0d51 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/vuln/347845 REF https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L1230-L1238 REF https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L1297 REF https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L1316-L1327 REF https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L386-L394 REF https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L395-L399 REF https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L401-L404

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