---
id: "CVE-2026-121401"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-121401"]
title: "FreeRDP: malicious RD Gateway packet crashes the client with a null dereference"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.3
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["freerdp", "package", "rd-gateway", "remote-desktop"]
not_affected_if: ["fixed-version", "no-rd-gateway"]
published_at: "2026-11-03T15:17:28+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-03T15:21:57+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-03T15:24:33+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121401", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-03T15:21:57+00:00"}]
---

# FreeRDP: malicious RD Gateway packet crashes the client with a null dereference

FreeRDP's RD Gateway code dispatches an extended-auth packet without checking the negotiated mode or auth context. A malicious or compromised RD Gateway can send that packet before tunnel authentication, causing a null-pointer dereference that crashes the client.

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

## How to check

- Check the installed FreeRDP version, for example with `xfreerdp /version` or your package manager's version query.
- Check whether connections go through an RD Gateway (the gateway setting in your remote desktop client configuration).

## Fix

- FreeRDP: move to `3.32.2` or later.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-03T15:21:57+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121401

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-8rjm-m7xg-mg6m
- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/freerdp-before-3.32.2-denial-of-service-via-rd-gateway-extended-auth-packet

## From the sources

FreeRDP before 3.32.2 contains a denial of service vulnerability where rdg_process_packet dispatches a PKT_TYPE_EXTENDED_AUTH_MSG without verifying negotiated mode or auth context. A malicious or compromised RD Gateway can send the extended-auth packet before tunnel authentication, triggering a null-pointer dereference that crashes 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_