FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, `xf_clipboard_format_equal` reads freed `lastSentFormats` memory because `xf_clipboard_formats_free` (called from the cliprdr channel thread during auto-reconnect) frees the array while the X11 event thread concurrently iterates it in `xf_clipboard_changed`, triggering a heap use after free. Version 3.23.0 fixes the issue.

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 High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploitation poc

Automatable yes

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_cliprdr.c#L1884 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_cliprdr.c#L1889 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_cliprdr.c#L265 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_cliprdr.c#L616 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_cliprdr.c#L831 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_cliprdr.c#L851-L855 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/blob/5c7aae27d0417b42b4806c2a5c583ca39dd9ef1e/client/X11/xf_cliprdr.c#L868-L875 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/commit/58409406afe7c2a8a71ed2dc8e22075be4f41c0c cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-q5j3-m6jf-3jq4 cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon cve-icon
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25997 cve-icon
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-25997 cve-icon
History

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +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:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 22:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description FreeRDP is a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol. Prior to version 3.23.0, `xf_clipboard_format_equal` reads freed `lastSentFormats` memory because `xf_clipboard_formats_free` (called from the cliprdr channel thread during auto-reconnect) frees the array while the X11 event thread concurrently iterates it in `xf_clipboard_changed`, triggering a heap use after free. Version 3.23.0 fixes the issue.
Title FreeRDP has heap-use-after-free in xf_clipboard_format_equal
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: 2026-02-25T20:38:40.483Z

Updated: 2026-02-25T21:39:08.071Z

Reserved: 2026-02-09T17:41:55.859Z

Link: CVE-2026-25997

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-02-25T21:39:01.960Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-02-25T21:16:42.210

Modified: 2026-02-27T14:57:09.820

Link: CVE-2026-25997

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-02-25T20:38:40Z

Links: CVE-2026-25997 - Bugzilla