---
id: "CVE-2026-112278"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-112278"]
title: "rdesktop: malicious RDP server crashes client via heap out-of-bounds read"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.1
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["linux", "package", "rdesktop", "rdp-clients"]
not_affected_if: ["no-rdesktop-installed", "trusted-rdp-servers-only"]
published_at: "2026-10-19T14:17:05+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:18+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T03:34:58+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-112278", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:18+00:00"}]
---

# rdesktop: malicious RDP server crashes client via heap out-of-bounds read

rdesktop through 1.9.0 has a heap out-of-bounds read in process_raw_bmpcache() in orders.c. A malicious RDP server can send a raw bitmap cache order with oversized dimensions and a tiny payload, making memcpy() read past the receive buffer and crash the client.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the installed version with `rdesktop -version` (unknown if the binary does not report it)
- Check whether your package manager lists rdesktop at `1.9.0` or earlier

## Fix

- Upgrade to a rdesktop release later than `1.9.0` once one is available (unknown whether a fixed version exists in the sources)
- Connect only to RDP servers you trust until patched

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:18+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-112278

## From the sources

rdesktop through 1.9.0 contains a heap out-of-bounds read vulnerability in process_raw_bmpcache() in orders.c that allows malicious RDP servers to crash clients. Attackers can send a raw bitmap cache order declaring large width, height, and bpp values with a tiny payload, causing memcpy() to read past the receive buffer and crash the client.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_