FreeRDP: Double-free of `client_formats` in the rdpsnd server channel on a malformed Client Audio Formats PDU
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-415 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to 3.28.0, rdpsnd_server_recv_formats in channels/rdpsnd/server/rdpsnd_main.c frees context->client_formats on a malformed Client Audio Formats PDU without clearing the owning pointer or num_client_formats. An authenticated RDP client can trigger an error such as a cbSize larger than the remaining record, leave the dangling pointer in the server context, and cause rdpsnd_server_context_free to free the same allocation again at session teardown. This reliably terminates the server and can create allocator-dependent heap corruption. This issue is fixed in version 3.28.0.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA FreeRDP (FreeRDP) Fixed in 3.28.0
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2026:68706 Released 2026-09-17 · Red Hat rating Importantfreerdp security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) freerdp-2:3.10.3-3.el10_0.16, freerdp-libs-2:3.10.3-3.el10_0.16, libwinpr-2:3.10.3-3.el10_0.16
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) freerdp-devel-2:3.10.3-3.el10_0.16, freerdp-server-2:3.10.3-3.el10_0.16, libwinpr-devel-2:3.10.3-3.el10_0.16
- RHSA-2026:61378 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Importantfreerdp security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) freerdp-2:3.10.3-12.el10_2.10, freerdp-libs-2:3.10.3-12.el10_2.10, libwinpr-2:3.10.3-12.el10_2.10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) freerdp-devel-2:3.10.3-12.el10_2.10, freerdp-server-2:3.10.3-12.el10_2.10, libwinpr-devel-2:3.10.3-12.el10_2.10
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:61378 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:68706 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:61378 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:68706 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-63652
References
More Freerdp vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-85092 Use-after-free in FreeRDP rdpgfx channel close handling CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-85091 Out-of-bounds write in FreeRDP proxy via bitmap cache v2 capability CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2026-24435 FreeRDP has a `size_t` underflow in ADPCM decoder leads to heap-buffer-overflow write CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-21373 Out-Of-Bounds Write in FreeRDP CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-08692 Server side NTLM does not properly check parameters in FreeRDP CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2023-21374 Out-Of-Bounds Read in FreeRDP CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
Sources
- CVE-2026-63652 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-63652 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-63652 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences