---
id: "CVE-2026-121959"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-121959"]
title: "FreeRDP: malicious RD Gateway can make clients spin and consume CPU"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.1
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["freerdp", "rd-gateway", "remote-desktop", "runtime"]
not_affected_if: ["freerdp-3.32.2-or-later", "no-rd-gateway"]
published_at: "2026-11-04T16:17:48+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-04T16:28:14+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-04T16:28:54+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121959", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-04T16:28:14+00:00"}]
---

# FreeRDP: malicious RD Gateway can make clients spin and consume CPU

FreeRDP's WebSocket reader can enter an infinite loop when a truncated frame is followed by a TLS close_notify. A malicious RD Gateway can make a client thread spin and consume CPU until the process is killed.

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

## How to check

- Check the FreeRDP version in use: `xfreerdp /version` or the version of the installed FreeRDP package
- Look for applications that link FreeRDP and connect through an RD Gateway

## Fix

- FreeRDP: upgrade to `3.32.2` or later

## Timeline

- 2026-11-04T16:28:14+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121959

## Documents

- [advisory] Vendor advisory: github.com https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-x26g-fp9v-c2pg
- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/freerdp-before-3.32.2-infinite-loop-via-truncated-websocket-frame

## From the sources

FreeRDP before 3.32.2 contains an infinite loop vulnerability in websocket_context_read that fails to handle a zero BIO result with payload outstanding. A malicious RD Gateway can send a truncated WebSocket frame followed by a TLS close_notify, causing a client thread to spin and consume CPU until killed.

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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_