CVE-2026-22851 (GCVE-0-2026-22851)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-01-14 17:43 – Updated: 2026-01-14 21:03
VLAI
Title
FreeRDP RDPGFX ResetGraphics race leads to use-after-free in SDL client (sdl->primary)
Summary
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.
Severity
6.9 (Medium)
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
SSVC
Exploitation: poc Automatable: no Technical Impact: partial
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2026-01-14 21:03 UTC
CWE
  • CWE-362 - Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
  • CWE-416 - Use After Free
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
FreeRDP FreeRDP Affected: < 3.20.1
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-22851",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "poc"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-01-14T21:03:26.062441Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-01-14T21:03:36.764Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "FreeRDP",
          "vendor": "FreeRDP",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 3.20.1"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "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-\u003eprimary (SDL_Surface) is accessed after it has been freed during RDPGFX ResetGraphics handling. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.20.1."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV4_0": {
            "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
            "attackRequirements": "NONE",
            "attackVector": "NETWORK",
            "baseScore": 6.9,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P",
            "version": "4.0",
            "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
            "vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-362",
              "description": "CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization (\u0027Race Condition\u0027)",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-416",
              "description": "CWE-416: Use After Free",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-01-14T17:43:28.114Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-8g87-6pvc-wh99",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-8g87-6pvc-wh99"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/releases/tag/3.20.1",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/releases/tag/3.20.1"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-8g87-6pvc-wh99",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "FreeRDP RDPGFX ResetGraphics race leads to use-after-free in SDL client (sdl-\u003eprimary)"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-22851",
    "datePublished": "2026-01-14T17:43:28.114Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-01-12T16:20:16.745Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-01-14T21:03:36.764Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2026-22851",
      "date": "2026-09-24",
      "epss": "0.00284",
      "percentile": "0.18611"
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "affected": [
          {
            "affectedData": [
              {
                "product": "FreeRDP",
                "vendor": "FreeRDP",
                "versions": [
                  {
                    "status": "affected",
                    "version": "\u003c 3.20.1"
                  }
                ]
              }
            ],
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
          }
        ],
        "configurations": [
          {
            "nodes": [
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:freerdp:freerdp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "1C802721-4198-476F-AE9E-78457C1CE38B",
                    "versionEndExcluding": "3.20.1",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "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-\u003eprimary (SDL_Surface) is accessed after it has been freed during RDPGFX ResetGraphics handling. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.20.1."
          },
          {
            "lang": "es",
            "value": "FreeRDP es una implementaci\u00f3n gratuita del Protocolo de Escritorio Remoto. Antes de la 3.20.1, una condici\u00f3n de carrera entre el hilo del canal virtual din\u00e1mico RDPGFX y el hilo de renderizado SDL conduce a un uso despu\u00e9s de liberaci\u00f3n en el heap. Espec\u00edficamente, se accede a un puntero escapado a sdl-\u0026gt;primary (SDL_Surface) despu\u00e9s de que ha sido liberado durante el manejo de RDPGFX ResetGraphics. Esta vulnerabilidad est\u00e1 corregida en la 3.20.1."
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2026-22851",
        "lastModified": "2026-06-17T10:20:30.200",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
                "attackVector": "NETWORK",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 5.9,
                "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
                "confidentialityImpact": "NONE",
                "integrityImpact": "NONE",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 2.2,
              "impactScore": 3.6,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary"
            }
          ],
          "cvssMetricV40": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
                "attackRequirements": "NONE",
                "attackVector": "NETWORK",
                "availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "baseScore": 6.9,
                "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
                "confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "exploitMaturity": "PROOF_OF_CONCEPT",
                "integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "providerUrgency": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
                "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
                "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
                "version": "4.0",
                "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
                "vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
                "vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "NOT_DEFINED"
              },
              "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
              "type": "Secondary"
            }
          ],
          "ssvcV203": [
            {
              "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "ssvcData": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-22851",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "exploitation": "poc"
                  },
                  {
                    "automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "technicalImpact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-01-14T21:03:26.062441Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2026-01-14T18:16:42.490",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Release Notes"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/releases/tag/3.20.1"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Exploit",
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-8g87-6pvc-wh99"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com",
        "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-362"
              },
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-416"
              }
            ],
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "type": "Secondary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-06-28T07:17:47+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-22851",
      "id": "CVE-2026-22851",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-01-14T17:43:28.114000+00:00",
      "product_status:known_affected": "31",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "freerdp: FreeRDP RDPGFX ResetGraphics race",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-22851.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "suse_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-08-16T16:38:58Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-22851",
      "id": "CVE-2026-22851",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-01-16T00:25:10Z",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "8",
      "product_status:recommended": "117",
      "source": "SUSE CSAF VEX",
      "status": "interim",
      "title": "SUSE CVE CVE-2026-22851",
      "url": "https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf-vex/cve-2026-22851.json",
      "version": "11"
    },
    "vulnrichment": {
      "containers": {
        "adp": [
          {
            "metrics": [
              {
                "other": {
                  "content": {
                    "id": "CVE-2026-22851",
                    "options": [
                      {
                        "Exploitation": "poc"
                      },
                      {
                        "Automatable": "no"
                      },
                      {
                        "Technical Impact": "partial"
                      }
                    ],
                    "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                    "timestamp": "2026-01-14T21:03:26.062441Z",
                    "version": "2.0.3"
                  },
                  "type": "ssvc"
                }
              }
            ],
            "providerMetadata": {
              "dateUpdated": "2026-01-14T21:03:33.744Z",
              "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
            },
            "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
          }
        ],
        "cna": {
          "affected": [
            {
              "product": "FreeRDP",
              "vendor": "FreeRDP",
              "versions": [
                {
                  "status": "affected",
                  "version": "\u003c 3.20.1"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "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-\u003eprimary (SDL_Surface) is accessed after it has been freed during RDPGFX ResetGraphics handling. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.20.1."
            }
          ],
          "metrics": [
            {
              "cvssV4_0": {
                "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
                "attackRequirements": "NONE",
                "attackVector": "NETWORK",
                "baseScore": 6.9,
                "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
                "subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
                "subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P",
                "version": "4.0",
                "vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "vulnConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
                "vulnIntegrityImpact": "NONE"
              }
            }
          ],
          "problemTypes": [
            {
              "descriptions": [
                {
                  "cweId": "CWE-362",
                  "description": "CWE-362: Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization (\u0027Race Condition\u0027)",
                  "lang": "en",
                  "type": "CWE"
                }
              ]
            },
            {
              "descriptions": [
                {
                  "cweId": "CWE-416",
                  "description": "CWE-416: Use After Free",
                  "lang": "en",
                  "type": "CWE"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "providerMetadata": {
            "dateUpdated": "2026-01-14T17:43:28.114Z",
            "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
            "shortName": "GitHub_M"
          },
          "references": [
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-8g87-6pvc-wh99",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-8g87-6pvc-wh99"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/releases/tag/3.20.1",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/releases/tag/3.20.1"
            }
          ],
          "source": {
            "advisory": "GHSA-8g87-6pvc-wh99",
            "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
          },
          "title": "FreeRDP RDPGFX ResetGraphics race leads to use-after-free in SDL client (sdl-\u003eprimary)"
        }
      },
      "cveMetadata": {
        "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
        "cveId": "CVE-2026-22851",
        "datePublished": "2026-01-14T17:43:28.114Z",
        "dateReserved": "2026-01-12T16:20:16.745Z",
        "dateUpdated": "2026-01-14T21:03:36.764Z",
        "state": "PUBLISHED"
      },
      "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
      "dataVersion": "5.2"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.



Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.