---
id: "CVE-2026-121950"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-121950"]
title: "FreeRDP: unchecked surface size lets a malicious server corrupt client memory"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.1
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["freerdp", "package", "rdp", "remote-desktop"]
not_affected_if: ["no-rdp-client", "rdpgfx-disabled"]
published_at: "2026-11-04T16:17:47+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-04T16:28:11+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-04T16:28:56+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121950", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-04T16:28:11+00:00"}]
---

# FreeRDP: unchecked surface size lets a malicious server corrupt client memory

FreeRDP clients fail to validate the product of surface width and height when handling an RDPGFX CREATE_SURFACE message. A malicious RDP server can send a crafted message that causes a heap overflow on 32-bit builds or a roughly 4 GiB allocation on 64-bit builds, leading to memory corruption or denial of service.

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

## How to check

- Check the installed FreeRDP version with `xfreerdp --version` or the package manager, and compare it to the fixed range below.
- Find which applications bundle FreeRDP (remote desktop clients, embedded RDP libraries) and check their versions.
- Confirm whether the client is a 32-bit build, since that is where the overflow is worst.

## Fix

- FreeRDP: move to `3.32.2` or later.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-04T16:28:11+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121950

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-f53w-3364-jr35
- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/freerdp-before-3.32.2-heap-overflow-via-rdpgfx-create-surface-integer-wrap

## From the sources

FreeRDP before 3.32.2 does not check the product of surface dimensions in gdi_CreateSurface when handling an RDPGFX CREATE_SURFACE PDU, causing an integer wrap and heap buffer overflow on 32-bit builds and an approximately 4 GiB allocation on 64-bit builds. A malicious RDP server can send a CREATE_SURFACE PDU with width and height 32766 to a connecting client to corrupt heap memory or cause a denial of service.

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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_