CVE-2026-23531CWE-122

FreeRDP has heap-buffer-overflow in clear_decompress

High · published January 19, 2026

CVSS v4.0
7.7
EPSS
1%
Percentile
44.2
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚡ A crafty server can exploit FreeRDP's ClearCodec to trigger a client-side heap overflow! This means a single malicious update could crash your system or worse! 🔥 Think of it as a delivery driver who mistakenly drops off a package at the wrong address, causing chaos in someone else's living room. In this case, the 'package' being mishandled is data that could lead to a heap overflow and system instability. An attacker can crash the client application, leading to a complete Denial of Service (DoS). If the heap layout is just right, they could even execute arbitrary code, putting your data at serious risk! This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it could lead to system failures or even worse security breaches.

Put simply

Think of it as a delivery driver who mistakenly drops off a package at the wrong address, causing chaos in someone else's living room. In this case, the 'package' being mishandled is data that could lead to a heap overflow and system instability. This vulnerability occurs when the `clear_decompress` function in FreeRDP fails to validate the destination rectangle while processing `glyphData`. This oversight allows for out-of-bounds read/write operations, leading to potential heap corruption and code execution risks.

What to do

An attacker can crash the client application, leading to a complete Denial of Service (DoS). If the heap layout is just right, they could even execute arbitrary code, putting your data at serious risk! This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it could lead to system failures or even worse security breaches. To protect your systems, upgrade to FreeRDP version 3.21.0 or later immediately. Regularly monitor for updates and consider implementing stricter controls on which servers your clients connect to in order to minimize exposure to potential threats. You've got this! Follow these steps and you'll be well on your way to securing your FreeRDP setup! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v4.0
7.7 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
EPSS
0.00533 · 44.2th percentile
Weakness
CWE-122 · Heap-based Buffer Overflow
Published
2026-01-19T17:01Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 19 JAN 17:01Z
    FreeRDP has heap-buffer-overflow in clear_decompress
    cvelistv5