FreeRDP: Reachable Assertion
CVE-2026-121951 is a high-severity reachable assertion 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. The record lists version 3.32.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating FreeRDP to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.42% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update FreeRDP to 3.32.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
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
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.7 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
FreeRDP 3.0.0 before 3.32.2 server-side RDP peer input parsing skips the six-byte body of a slow-path input event with an unknown message type without checking it lies within the packet's declared length, causing a WinPR stream assertion failure. A remote RDP client with an active session can send a truncated unknown input event to abort assertion-enabled server processes, causing denial of service.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Reachable Assertion
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.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If the assertion statement is required (e.g., for security or reliability), change the invoking code to avoid the conditions that trigger the assertion.
- Consider changing the assertion to some other less fatal error. This might not be easy to implement, since other code may be needed to handle the error.
- Make sensitive open/close operations non-reachable from directly user-controlled data (e.g. open/close resources)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
- github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-4qq4-qwxq-49m8Exploit, Mitigation
Third-party and government advisories
Other vulnerabilities in FreeRDP
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.0 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Reachable Assertion vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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