FreeRDP up to 3.22.x smartcard_pack.c smartcard_unpack_read_size_align assertion

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in FreeRDP up to 3.22.x. The affected element is the function smartcard_unpack_read_size_align of the file libfreerdp/utils/smartcard_pack.c. Performing a manipulation results in assertion. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-27015. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in FreeRDP up to 3.22.x. This affects the function smartcard_unpack_read_size_align of the file libfreerdp/utils/smartcard_pack.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a assertion vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-617. The product contains an assert() or similar statement that can be triggered by an attacker, which leads to an application exit or other behavior that is more severe than necessary. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, a missing bounds check in `smartcard_unpack_read_size_align()` (`libfreerdp/utils/smartcard_pack.c:1703`) allows a malicious RDP server to crash the FreeRDP client via a reachable `WINPR_ASSERT` → `abort()`. The crash occurs in upstream builds where `WITH_VERBOSE_WINPR_ASSERT=ON` (default in FreeRDP 3.22.0 / current WinPR CMake defaults). Smartcard redirection must be explicitly enabled by the user (e.g., `xfreerdp /smartcard`; `/smartcard-logon` implies `/smartcard`). Version 3.23.0 fixes the issue.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-27015 since 02/17/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 300124 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-27015), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 3.23.0 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 65d59d3b3c2f630f2ea862687ecf5f95f8115244 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (300124) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0514). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

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

Productinfo

Type

• Remote Access Software

Name

• FreeRDP

Version

• 3.0
• 3.1
• 3.2
• 3.3
• 3.4
• 3.5
• 3.6
• 3.7
• 3.8
• 3.9
• 3.10
• 3.11
• 3.12
• 3.13
• 3.14
• 3.15
• 3.16
• 3.17
• 3.18
• 3.19
• 3.20
• 3.21
• 3.22

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/

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