CVE-2026-41252 xrdp: lib_palette_update Heap Buffer Overflow & RCE
A heap buffer overflow in xrdp's vnc-any mode allows remote code execution or denial of service via crafted VNC messages.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-41252?
CVE-2026-41252 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in neutrinolabs xrdp, published on 20 Jul 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
xrdp is an open source RDP server. Versions 0.10.6 and prior contain a missing bounds check in xrdp, which allows a heap-based buffer overflow when operating in vnc-any mode. The issue occurs during the handling of RFB protocol color map messages from a VNC server, where incoming color indices are not properly validated. A malicious VNC server can exploit this flaw by sending crafted messages with out-of-range values, leading to an out-of-bounds write on the heap. This memory corruption can result in a denial of service (DoS) or potentially allow remote code execution (RCE) prior to authentication. This issue has been fixed in version 0.10.6.1.
Weakness: CWE-122
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-41252?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Neutrinolabs Xrdp.
How do I fix CVE-2026-41252?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2026-41252 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-41252 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in neutrinolabs xrdp
- CVE-2026-32105 xrdp: RDP MAC signature (dataSignature) never verified on receive — integrity bypass in non-TLS mode
- CVE-2026-44178 xrdp: Channel Data Forwarding Fixed-Size Buffer Overflow
- CVE-2026-32107 xrdp: Fail-open privilege drop in sesexec — child processes may execute as root if setuid fails
- CVE-2026-33689 xrdp: Pre-authentication out-of-bounds reads in channel parsers
- CVE-2026-35512 xrdp: Heap buffer overflow in EGFX channel
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-41252, GHSA-w5vg-6qmv-j63j, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-41252.