Client code execution via unchecked ClearCodec rectangle
Published Feb 25, 2026 · Updated Feb 25, 2026
Heap buffer overflow in FreeRDP before 3.23.0 allows remote attackers to execute code when a client connects to a malicious RDP server. The gdi_SurfaceCommand_ClearCodec handler passes an unchecked destination rectangle and subcodec offsets to image-copy routines that write beyond surface data. A user must initiate the RDP connection; successful corruption can crash the client or redirect an indirect function call.
Summary
What happened
Heap buffer overflow in FreeRDP before 3.23.0 allows remote attackers to execute code when a client connects to a malicious RDP server. The gdi_SurfaceCommand_ClearCodec handler passes an unchecked destination rectangle and subcodec offsets to image-copy routines that write beyond surface data. A user must initiate the RDP connection; successful corruption can crash the client or redirect an indirect function call.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-26955
- Published
- Feb 25, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 25, 2026
- Vendor
- FreeRDP
- Product
- FreeRDP
- Classifications
- CWE-122, CWE-787, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=< 3.23.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- ClearCodec heap-corruption and control-flow harnessesproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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