CVE-2026-110832 in FreeRDP
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
FreeRDP from 2.0.0 before 3.32.0 contains a memory exhaustion vulnerability in wts_read_drdynvc_data_first that allows authenticated clients to force servers to commit large memory allocations. Attackers can send a seven-byte DATA_FIRST message on an opened DVC declaring a large 32-bit length, causing zeroed resident memory growth and server resource exhaustion.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The vulnerability identified in FreeRDP versions prior to 3.32.0 represents a critical resource management flaw within the Remote Desktop Dynamic Virtual Channel (DVC) implementation. Specifically, the defect resides in the wts_read_drdynvc_data_first function, which is responsible for processing initial data packets received over an established DVC session. This component handles the parsing of incoming messages that dictate how subsequent channel traffic should be managed between the client and server applications. The core technical issue stems from insufficient validation of length fields contained within these protocol messages, allowing a malicious actor to manipulate memory allocation behaviors on the target system.
An authenticated attacker can exploit this flaw by establishing a connection with the FreeRDP server and initiating a DVC session. Once the channel is open, the adversary sends a specifically crafted seven-byte DATA_FIRST message that declares an excessively large value in its 32-bit length field. Because the software fails to adequately verify whether this declared size is reasonable or within expected bounds relative to available system resources, it proceeds to allocate memory based on this untrusted input. This results in the immediate commitment of zeroed resident memory proportional to the inflated length value provided by the attacker.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe resource exhaustion leading to denial of service conditions. As the server continues to commit large blocks of physical RAM for each malicious request, system performance degrades rapidly. Eventually, the operating system may run out of available memory, causing the FreeRDP application or even the entire host system to become unresponsive or crash. This type of attack does not require code execution privileges on the target machine but relies solely on network access and valid authentication credentials, making it a significant threat in environments where remote desktop services are exposed to users with varying levels of trustworthiness.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which describes uncontrolled resource consumption, as well as CWE-789, regarding memory allocation with unchecked input values. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior corresponds to techniques associated with Denial of Service and potentially Resource Hijacking, where an adversary consumes system resources to disrupt service availability or degrade performance for legitimate users. The exploitation vector is classified as network-accessible but requires authentication, placing it in a category that demands strict access control policies alongside technical mitigations.
To mitigate this risk, organizations running FreeRDP versions before 3.32.0 should prioritize upgrading to the latest patched release where these input validation checks have been implemented. In scenarios where immediate patching is not feasible, administrators can implement network-level authentication restrictions or firewall rules that limit access to RDP services only from trusted IP ranges and users with verified credentials. Additionally, monitoring system memory usage patterns for sudden spikes correlated with incoming connection attempts can help in detecting active exploitation of this vulnerability before it leads to a complete service outage.