# 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.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Jul 2026
- **Updated:** 23 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2026-41252, GHSA-w5vg-6qmv-j63j, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-41252

## 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 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-41252?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Neutrinolabs Xrdp.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-41252?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## 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](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32105/): xrdp: RDP MAC signature (dataSignature) never verified on receive — integrity bypass in non-TLS mode (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2026-44178](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-44178/): xrdp: Channel Data Forwarding Fixed-Size Buffer Overflow (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-32107](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-32107/): xrdp: Fail-open privilege drop in sesexec — child processes may execute as root if setuid fails (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-33689](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-33689/): xrdp: Pre-authentication out-of-bounds reads in channel parsers (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2026-35512](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35512/): xrdp: Heap buffer overflow in EGFX channel (high 8.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-41252 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-41252 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: neutrinolabs xrdp. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41252/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41252/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-41252
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41252
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-41252

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41252/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.