CVE-2024-32660 in FreeRDP
Summary
by MITRE • 04/23/2024
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.5.1, a malicious server can crash the FreeRDP client by sending invalid huge allocation size. Version 3.5.1 contains a patch for the issue. No known workarounds are available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-32660 affects FreeRDP, an open-source implementation of Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol that enables remote desktop connections across various platforms. This security flaw resides in the client-side processing logic where the software fails to properly validate memory allocation requests received from remote servers. The issue specifically manifests when a malicious remote server sends a specially crafted allocation request containing an excessively large memory size parameter that exceeds the client's acceptable limits. This represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability pattern that can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-122 as "Heap-based Buffer Overflow" which directly relates to improper validation of memory allocation sizes during remote desktop protocol processing. From an operational perspective, this flaw creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on FreeRDP for remote desktop connectivity, as it allows an unauthenticated attacker positioned on the network to potentially disrupt service availability by simply connecting to a vulnerable client and sending the malformed allocation request. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of remote desktop sessions and could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains targeting enterprise networks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where remote desktop services are exposed to untrusted networks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004 which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service" and T1566.002 related to "Phishing via Social Engineering" as attackers might use this vulnerability to establish initial access through compromised remote desktop sessions. The patch implemented in FreeRDP version 3.5.1 addresses this by introducing proper bounds checking on allocation size parameters received from remote servers, ensuring that memory requests are validated against acceptable limits before processing. Organizations utilizing FreeRDP should immediately upgrade to version 3.5.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Given the lack of known workarounds, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of FreeRDP clients to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual allocation request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential denial of service scenarios involving remote desktop protocols. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in network protocols, particularly those handling memory allocation requests from potentially malicious sources. This flaw underscores the necessity of robust memory management practices in remote desktop implementations and highlights the potential for seemingly benign protocol features to become attack vectors when proper validation mechanisms are absent.