CVE-2026-50497 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
Off-by-one error in Windows Remote Desktop Protocol allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information over a network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2026
An off-by-one error in the Windows Remote Desktop Protocol represents a critical vulnerability that enables unauthorized network-based attackers to extract sensitive information through malformed protocol interactions. This class of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, where boundary checks fail to properly validate input parameters, creating opportunities for information disclosure attacks. The flaw manifests when the RDP implementation does not correctly handle buffer boundaries during packet processing, allowing attackers to manipulate data structures and potentially read memory contents beyond intended limits.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted RDP packets that trigger the boundary condition error. When the protocol processes incoming data streams, the off-by-one mistake causes the system to access memory locations that should remain protected, enabling attackers to gather information about system internals, memory layouts, or other sensitive data that should not be exposed through normal network communication channels. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in RDP environments where authentication mechanisms may be bypassed or compromised, as it operates at the protocol level rather than requiring elevated privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations relying on Windows RDP services for remote access and management. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform reconnaissance activities without direct system compromise, gathering intelligence that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The information disclosure capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082 for System Information Discovery and T1567 for Exfiltration Over Web Service, as attackers can collect sensitive data about network configurations, system components, and potentially credentials stored in memory areas. Organizations using RDP services are particularly vulnerable if they have not implemented proper network segmentation or if their RDP implementations are accessible from untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application of Microsoft security patches addressing the specific RDP vulnerability, along with network-level protections such as implementing firewalls that restrict RDP access to trusted IP ranges and deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed RDP traffic patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for RDP connections, disabling unnecessary RDP services on systems where they are not required, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect anomalous RDP activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation practices should ensure that RDP access is limited to administrative networks rather than being directly accessible from production environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of rigorous input validation in protocol implementations and highlights the need for continuous security assessments of critical system components to prevent similar issues from arising in other network services.