CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-39283NVD status: Modified

FreeRDP: Use of Uninitialized Resource

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2022-39283 is a high-severity use of uninitialized resource vulnerability in FreeRDP, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected FreeRDP versions: <= 2.8.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.38% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 73% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of FreeRDP you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
FreeRDPFreeRDP<= 2.8.0Not stated
Fedora ProjectFedora35; 36; 37Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.15.9MediumCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD

Official description

FreeRDP is a free remote desktop protocol library and clients. All FreeRDP based clients when using the `/video` command line switch might read uninitialized data, decode it as audio/video and display the result. FreeRDP based server implementations are not affected. This issue has been patched in version 2.8.1. If you cannot upgrade do not use the `/video` switch.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Use of Uninitialized Resource

The product uses or accesses a resource that has not been initialized.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Explicitly initialize the resource before use. If this is performed through an API function or standard procedure, follow all required steps.
  • Pay close attention to complex conditionals that affect initialization, since some branches might not perform the initialization.
  • Avoid race conditions (CWE-362) during initialization routines.

More Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities (CWE-908)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in FreeRDP

All FreeRDP vulnerabilities

Recent Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities

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