CVE-2026-67290 in FreeRDP
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2026
FreeRDP before 3.29.0 contains a heap out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the TSMF FFmpeg decoder when parsing AVC1 MPEG2VIDEOINFO media types with insufficient ExtraData. Attackers can send malformed media format data from a server to trigger a crash by reading fixed offsets without validating source buffer length.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2026
This vulnerability exists within FreeRDP's TSMF component which handles multimedia streaming through the FFmpeg decoder implementation. The flaw manifests as a heap out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when processing specific media format data types, particularly those using AVC1 MPEG2VIDEOINFO structures with inadequate ExtraData fields. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of source buffer boundaries before accessing fixed memory offsets during media format parsing operations.
The technical implementation involves the TSMF subsystem receiving media format information from remote servers and attempting to parse this data without proper bounds checking. When encountering AVC1 MPEG2VIDEOINFO structures with insufficient ExtraData content, the decoder reads beyond allocated heap memory regions at predetermined offsets. This occurs because the parsing logic assumes minimum data lengths that may not be met in malformed input scenarios. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow condition that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple crash conditions, as it represents a potential pathway for remote code execution within systems running vulnerable FreeRDP versions. Attackers exploiting this flaw can cause denial of service through system crashes or potentially gain unauthorized access to affected systems. The vulnerability affects any system utilizing FreeRDP for remote desktop connections where multimedia streaming is enabled, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments relying on remote desktop protocols.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to FreeRDP version 3.29.0 or later which contains the necessary bounds checking fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of FreeRDP services to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual media format data patterns in network traffic and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed media stream attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient input validation leading to buffer overflows, and represents a potential ATT&CK technique involving remote code execution through protocol manipulation.
The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of proper bounds checking in multimedia processing components, particularly when handling untrusted data from remote sources. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all FreeRDP installations and ensure that any custom configurations or third-party integrations are also updated to prevent exploitation. Regular security testing of remote desktop protocols and multimedia streaming components remains essential for maintaining robust security postures against similar vulnerabilities in complex network environments.