CVE-2026-27015
FreeRDP: Smartcard NDR Alignment Padding Triggers Reachable WINPR_ASSERT Abort (Client DoS)
Description
FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, a missing bounds check in `smartcard_unpack_read_size_align()` (`libfreerdp/utils/smartcard_pack.c:1703`) allows a malicious RDP server to crash the FreeRDP client via a reachable `WINPR_ASSERT` → `abort()`. The crash occurs in upstream builds where `WITH_VERBOSE_WINPR_ASSERT=ON` (default in FreeRDP 3.22.0 / current WinPR CMake defaults). Smartcard redirection must be explicitly enabled by the user (e.g., `xfreerdp /smartcard`; `/smartcard-logon` implies `/smartcard`). Version 3.23.0 fixes the issue.
INFO
Published Date :
Feb. 25, 2026, 9:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
Feb. 27, 2026, 2:48 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 4.0 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update FreeRDP to version 3.23.0.
- Ensure smartcard redirection is only enabled when necessary.
- Review WinPR build configurations.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-27015.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/commit/65d59d3b3c2f630f2ea862687ecf5f95f8115244 | Patch |
| https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-7g72-39pq-4725 | Exploit Mitigation Patch Vendor Advisory |
| https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-7g72-39pq-4725 | Exploit Mitigation Patch Vendor Advisory |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-27015 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-27015
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-27015 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-27015 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Feb. 27, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:freerdp:freerdp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (excluding) 3.23.0 Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/commit/65d59d3b3c2f630f2ea862687ecf5f95f8115244 Types: Patch Added Reference Type CISA-ADP: https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-7g72-39pq-4725 Types: Exploit, Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory Added Reference Type GitHub, Inc.: https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-7g72-39pq-4725 Types: Exploit, Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Feb. 26, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-7g72-39pq-4725 -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Feb. 25, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, a missing bounds check in `smartcard_unpack_read_size_align()` (`libfreerdp/utils/smartcard_pack.c:1703`) allows a malicious RDP server to crash the FreeRDP client via a reachable `WINPR_ASSERT` → `abort()`. The crash occurs in upstream builds where `WITH_VERBOSE_WINPR_ASSERT=ON` (default in FreeRDP 3.22.0 / current WinPR CMake defaults). Smartcard redirection must be explicitly enabled by the user (e.g., `xfreerdp /smartcard`; `/smartcard-logon` implies `/smartcard`). Version 3.23.0 fixes the issue. Added CVSS V4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X Added CWE CWE-617 Added Reference https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/commit/65d59d3b3c2f630f2ea862687ecf5f95f8115244 Added Reference https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-7g72-39pq-4725