Client memory corruption via NDR ref-id aliasing
Published May 29, 2026 · Updated May 29, 2026
Memory corruption in FreeRDP before 3.26.0 allows remote attackers controlling an RDP server to corrupt client memory through RDPEAR NDR data. RDPEAR's ndr_read_pointedMessageEx cache reuses one heap allocation for repeated pointer ref-ids without verifying NDR type or ownership, while ndr_struct_destroy frees each owning field independently. Exploitation requires a user or application to connect with RDPEAR and Remote Credential Guard active; confirmed outcomes are use-after-free, double-free behavior, type confusion, and an out-of-bounds read, not reliable code execution.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in FreeRDP before 3.26.0 allows remote attackers controlling an RDP server to corrupt client memory through RDPEAR NDR data. RDPEAR's ndr_read_pointedMessageEx cache reuses one heap allocation for repeated pointer ref-ids without verifying NDR type or ownership, while ndr_struct_destroy frees each owning field independently. Exploitation requires a user or application to connect with RDPEAR and Remote Credential Guard active; confirmed outcomes are use-after-free, double-free behavior, type confusion, and an out-of-bounds read, not reliable code execution.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-44422
- Published
- May 29, 2026
- Updated
- May 29, 2026
- Vendor
- FreeRDP
- Product
- FreeRDP
- Classifications
- CWE-825, CWE-416, CWE-415
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 29, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 29, 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=< 3.26.0
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
- FreeRDP RDPEAR NDR alias UAF and type-confusion probesproof 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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