---
id: "CVE-2026-121403"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-121403"]
title: "FreeRDP: malformed drive request lets a rogue server exhaust client memory"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.3
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["freerdp", "package", "rdp-clients", "remote-desktop"]
not_affected_if: ["drive-redirection-disabled", "trusted-servers-only"]
published_at: "2026-11-03T15:17:28+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-03T15:21:58+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-03T15:24:29+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121403", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-03T15:21:58+00:00"}]
---

# FreeRDP: malformed drive request lets a rogue server exhaust client memory

FreeRDP, a remote desktop client library, silently stops its drive worker when it receives a malformed drive I/O request with a truncated create body. A malicious RDP server can then keep sending requests that pile up in memory until the session fails.

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

## How to check

- Check the installed FreeRDP version (for example `xfreerdp --version`) and compare it to the fixed release in the fix field.
- Look for applications that bundle FreeRDP and check their version notes; the sources do not name them.

## Fix

- FreeRDP versions before `3.32.2`: move to `3.32.2` or later.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-03T15:21:58+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121403

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-5qqp-5ffm-m3p9
- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/freerdp-before-3.32.2-denial-of-service-via-malformed-drive-irp

## From the sources

FreeRDP before 3.32.2 contains a denial of service vulnerability where a malformed drive DEVICE_IOREQUEST with a truncated IRP_MJ_CREATE body silently kills the drive worker. A malicious RDP server can send such an IRP then post further requests that accumulate unbounded in the IrpQueue, exhausting memory and causing session availability loss.

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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_