CVE-2026-68580 in FreeRDP
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2026
FreeRDP before 3.29.0 contains integer overflow vulnerabilities in the audio input redirection channel (audin) across ALSA, sndio, WinMM, and OpenSL ES backends that fail to validate the FramesPerPacket parameter from RDP servers. Attackers can supply a malicious FramesPerPacket value causing allocation size wraparound, resulting in heap-based buffer overflow on ALSA or denial of service on all platforms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2026
The vulnerability under discussion represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting FreeRDP versions prior to 3.29.0 within its audio input redirection channel implementation. This issue specifically impacts the audin component that handles audio input from remote desktop sessions through various backend systems including ALSA for Linux audio, sndio for portable audio, WinMM for Windows multimedia, and OpenSL ES for mobile platforms. The core technical flaw stems from inadequate validation of the FramesPerPacket parameter which originates from RDP server communications and is processed without proper bounds checking or overflow detection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests through multiple potential attack vectors that exploit the integer overflow condition during memory allocation operations. When a malicious RDP server provides an oversized FramesPerPacket value, the system performs arithmetic operations that result in allocation size wraparound, effectively causing the intended memory allocation to become significantly smaller than requested. This wraparound behavior creates a heap-based buffer overflow scenario on ALSA implementations where the corrupted memory can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability also introduces denial of service conditions across all supported platforms since even non-exploitable cases can cause application crashes or system instability.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190 which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, representing one of the most common classes of memory safety issues in networked applications. The attack surface extends beyond traditional exploitation scenarios as it leverages the RDP protocol's audio redirection capabilities, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where remote desktop services are extensively utilized. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental security principles and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers legitimate credentials and access to network resources through protocol manipulation.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of FreeRDP installations to version 3.29.0 or later where the integer overflow protections have been implemented. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious RDP servers, particularly in environments where remote desktop services are exposed to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual FramesPerPacket values in RDP traffic and implementing application whitelisting to restrict execution of vulnerable FreeRDP versions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive input validation in network protocol implementations and underscores the necessity of regular security audits focusing on memory safety mechanisms within critical infrastructure components.