CVE-2026-26986 FreeRDP has heap-use-after-free in rail_window_free
A use-after-free in FreeRDP allows attackers to cause crashes or potentially execute code via crafted RDP connections.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-26986?
CVE-2026-26986 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Freerdp Freerdp, published on 25 Feb 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, `rail_window_free` dereferences a freed `xfAppWindow` pointer during `HashTable_Free` cleanup because `xf_rail_window_common` calls `free(appWindow)` on title allocation failure without first removing the entry from the `railWindows` hash table, leaving a dangling pointer that is freed again on disconnect. Version 3.23.0 fixes the vulnerability.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-26986?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Freerdp Freerdp.
How do I fix CVE-2026-26986?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-26986 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-26986 exists.
Other vulnerabilities in Freerdp Freerdp
- CVE-2021-37594 Other in n/a
- CVE-2021-37595 Other in n/a
- CVE-2026-67305 FreeRDP Windows Client before 3.29.0 Heap Buffer Overflow via Cliprdr
- CVE-2026-66402 FreeRDP before 3.29.0 TLS Certificate Identity Validation Bypass
- CVE-2026-67289 FreeRDP before 3.29.0 HTTP Proxy Request Injection via Redirection
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-26986, GHSA-crqx-g6x5-rx47, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-26986.