CVE-2026-23530: FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol

Q: How do I fix CVE-2026-23530?

freerdp: upgrade to 3.21.0. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2026-23530 being exploited?

CVE-2026-23530 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2026-23530 affect?

CVE-2026-23530 affects freerdp. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.21.0,`freerdp_bitmap_decompress_planar` does not validate `nSrcWidth`/`nSrcHeight` against `planar->maxWidth`/`maxHeight` before RLE decode. A malicious ser

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEUPGRADE

CVE-2026-23530 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting freerdp. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.21.0,`freerdp_bitmap_decompress_planar` does not validate `nSrcWidth`/`nSrcHeight` against `planar->maxWidth`/`maxHeight` before RLE decode. A malicious server can trigger a client‑side heap buffer overflow, causing a crash (DoS) and potential heap corruption with code‑execution risk depending on allocator behavior and surrounding heap layout. Version 3.21.0 conta

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.5% (top 55%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-122
Published	2026-01-19
Last modified	2026-07-15

Publisher (CNA): GitHub, Inc. · Vendor: freerdp

Last updated 2026-07-15 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-01-19 17:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-07-15 02:18 UTCUpdated Record last modified

freerdp freerdp UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.21.0

Fixed in: 3.21.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy freerdp || rpm -q freerdp || freerdp --version

2. UPGRADE to 3.21.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade freerdp

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade freerdp

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Exact fixes by distribution

Fedora ELN · openldap · FIXED · 2.6.16-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-4b30c86326 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-4b30c86326

Fedora 46 · php-pecl-yac · FIXED · 3.0.1-2.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-5f43289aa2 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-5f43289aa2

Ubuntu 20.04 · freerdp2 · FIXED · 2.6.1+dfsg1-0ubuntu0.20.04.2+esm1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade freerdp2 dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' freerdp2)" ge "2.6.1+dfsg1-0ubuntu0.20.04.2+esm1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 22.04 · freerdp2 · FIXED · 2.6.1+dfsg1-3ubuntu2.8

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade freerdp2 dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' freerdp2)" ge "2.6.1+dfsg1-3ubuntu2.8" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 24.04 · freerdp2 · FIXED · 2.11.5+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.1~esm3

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade freerdp2 dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' freerdp2)" ge "2.11.5+dfsg1-1ubuntu0.1~esm3" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 24.04 · freerdp3 · FIXED · 3.5.1+dfsg1-0ubuntu1.4

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade freerdp3 dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' freerdp3)" ge "3.5.1+dfsg1-0ubuntu1.4" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Ubuntu 25.10 · freerdp3 · FIXED · 3.16.0+dfsg-2ubuntu0.3

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade freerdp3 dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' freerdp3)" ge "3.16.0+dfsg-2ubuntu0.3" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 12 · freerdp2 · NO FIX YET

Debian 13 · freerdp3 · FIXED · 3.15.0+dfsg-2.1+deb13u1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade freerdp3 dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' freerdp3)" ge "3.15.0+dfsg-2.1+deb13u1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 10 · freerdp · FIXED · freerdp-3.10.3-5.el10_1.1

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2026:2222 rpm -q freerdp

RHEL 10.0 Extended Update Support · freerdp · FIXED · freerdp-3.10.3-3.el10_0.1

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2026:2952 rpm -q freerdp

RHEL 7 Extended Lifecycle Support · freerdp · FIXED · freerdp-2.1.1-5.el7_9.1

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2026:2714 rpm -q freerdp

RHEL 8 · freerdp · FIXED · freerdp-2.11.7-2.el8_10

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2026:2081 rpm -q freerdp

RHEL 8.2 Advanced Update Support · freerdp · FIXED · freerdp-2.0.0-46.rc4.el8_2.6

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2026:3039 rpm -q freerdp

Alpine 3.23 · freerdp · FIXED · freerdp-3.22.0-r0

apk add --upgrade freerdp apk info -v freerdp

Alpine 3.24 · freerdp · FIXED · freerdp-3.21.0-r0

apk add --upgrade freerdp apk info -v freerdp

Amazon Linux 2023 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2023-2026-1379 · source

sudo dnf update --advisory=ALAS2023-2026-1379

Amazon Linux 2 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2-2026-3162 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS2-2026-3162

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-r4hv-852m-fq7p

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-23530?

freerdp: upgrade to 3.21.0. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-23530 being exploited?

CVE-2026-23530 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2026-23530 affect?

CVE-2026-23530 affects freerdp. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.21.0,`freerdp_bitmap_decompress_planar` does not validate `nSrcWidth`/`nSrcHeight` against `planar->maxWidth`/`maxHeight` before RLE decode. A malicious ser

How urgent is CVE-2026-23530?

Priority 56/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

WinRM and RDP vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-111379 HIGH 7.3 UPGRADE FreeRDP before 3.32.0 contains a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in persistent_cache_read_entry_v3 that all
CVE-2026-109256 MEDIUM 5.3 UPGRADE FreeRDP 3.10.0 through 3.32.2 contains a heap buffer overflow in the WinPR png_write_data callback that writes
CVE-2026-109257 MEDIUM 5.9 DOWNGRADE FreeRDP before 3.32.0 contains a double-free vulnerability in nsc_context_initialize_encode() that leaves dang
CVE-2026-109940 MEDIUM 4.3 UPGRADE FreeRDP 3.0.0-beta1 before 3.32.0 on Unix builds with PKCS#11 support has a stack-based buffer overflow in wpr
CVE-2026-109939 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE FreeRDP 3.27.1 before 3.32.0 contains a NULL pointer dereference in update_read_cache_bitmap_v3_order() in lib

References

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