FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, `rail_window_free` dereferences a freed `xfAppWindow` pointer during `HashTable_Free` cleanup because `xf_rail_window_common` calls `free(appWindow)` on title allocation failure without first removing the entry from the `railWindows` hash table, leaving a dangling pointer that is freed again on disconnect. Version 3.23.0 fixes the vulnerability.

Metrics

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact None

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact None

Vulnerable System Availability Impact Low

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required None

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact None

Integrity Impact None

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploitation poc

Automatable no

Technical Impact partial

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendors Products
Freerdp
  • Freerdp

Configuration 1 [-]

cpe:2.3:a:freerdp:freerdp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

No data.

References
Link Providers
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L1230-L1238 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L1297 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L1316-L1327 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L386-L394 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L395-L399 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_rail.c#L401-L404 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/commit/b4f0f0a18fe53aa8d47d062f91471f4e9c5e0d51 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-crqx-g6x5-rx47 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-26986 cve-icon
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-26986 cve-icon
History

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:freerdp:freerdp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Freerdp
Freerdp freerdp
Vendors & Products Freerdp
Freerdp freerdp

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-825
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, `rail_window_free` dereferences a freed `xfAppWindow` pointer during `HashTable_Free` cleanup because `xf_rail_window_common` calls `free(appWindow)` on title allocation failure without first removing the entry from the `railWindows` hash table, leaving a dangling pointer that is freed again on disconnect. Version 3.23.0 fixes the vulnerability.
Title FreeRDP has heap-use-after-free in rail_window_free
Weaknesses CWE-416
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P'}
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published: 2026-02-25T21:01:16.916Z

Updated: 2026-09-17T18:36:53.533Z

Reserved: 2026-02-17T01:41:24.606Z

Link: CVE-2026-26986

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-02-26T20:35:58.783Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-02-25T22:16:24.540

Modified: 2026-06-17T10:26:29.450

Link: CVE-2026-26986

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-02-25T21:01:16Z

Links: CVE-2026-26986 - Bugzilla