Client crash via SDL2 pointer double-free
Published Feb 25, 2026 · Updated Feb 25, 2026
Heap use-after-free in FreeRDP before 3.23.0 allows remote attackers controlling an RDP server to crash SDL2-based clients via pointer updates. When sdl_Pointer_New frees ptr->data after pointer image conversion fails, the failure path reaches pointer_free and sdl_Pointer_Free frees the uncleared pointer again. Exploitation requires an SDL2-based client to process a malicious server's pointer update; the demonstrated consequence is a client crash, while code execution remains unproven.
Summary
What happened
Heap use-after-free in FreeRDP before 3.23.0 allows remote attackers controlling an RDP server to crash SDL2-based clients via pointer updates. When sdl_Pointer_New frees ptr->data after pointer image conversion fails, the failure path reaches pointer_free and sdl_Pointer_Free frees the uncleared pointer again. Exploitation requires an SDL2-based client to process a malicious server's pointer update; the demonstrated consequence is a client crash, while code execution remains unproven.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-27950
- Published
- Feb 25, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 25, 2026
- Vendor
- FreeRDP
- Product
- FreeRDP
- Classifications
- CWE-416, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=< 3.23.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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