FreeRDP up to 3.20.0 SDL_Surface race condition

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in FreeRDP up to 3.20.0. This affects the function SDL_Surface. Executing a manipulation can lead to race condition. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-22851. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in FreeRDP up to 3.20.0 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function SDL_Surface. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to 3.20.1, a race condition between the RDPGFX dynamic virtual channel thread and the SDL render thread leads to a heap use-after-free. Specifically, an escaped pointer to sdl->primary (SDL_Surface) is accessed after it has been freed during RDPGFX ResetGraphics handling. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.20.1.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-22851 since 01/12/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 297418 (SUSE SLED15 / SLES15 Security Update : freerdp (SUSE-SU-2026:0345-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 3.20.1 eliminates this vulnerability. The upgrade is hosted for download at github.com.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (297418), EUVD (EUVD-2026-2677) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0111). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source FreeRDP

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.8

VulDB Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.9
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Race condition
CWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 297418
Nessus Name: SUSE SLED15 / SLES15 Security Update : freerdp (SUSE-SU-2026:0345-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: FreeRDP 3.20.1

Timelineinfo

01/12/2026 CVE reserved
01/14/2026 +2 days Advisory disclosed
01/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
02/26/2026 +43 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Product: github.com

Advisory: GHSA-8g87-6pvc-wh99
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-22851 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-22851
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-341140
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0111 - FreeRDP: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 01/14/2026 21:31
Updated: 02/26/2026 10:05
Changes: 01/14/2026 21:31 (68), 01/15/2026 20:41 (1), 01/17/2026 08:33 (1), 01/21/2026 05:48 (10), 01/31/2026 15:07 (2), 02/26/2026 10:05 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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