Description

Stack-based buffer overflow in Remote Desktop Client allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "8.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-11T17:18:36.660Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-11T17:18:36.660Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists within the Remote Desktop Client, potentially allowing an unauthorized, remote attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution on targeted systems.\nThe flaw stems from insufficient boundary checks during the processing of network data, which can lead to memory corruption when handling specially crafted packets.\nSuccessful exploitation of this vulnerability compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected host, granting the attacker the execution privileges of the vulnerable Remote Desktop Client process.\nBecause the vulnerability is exploitable over a network without requiring authentication, the overall risk implication is critical, enabling wormable attack scenarios or targeted remote compromises.\nAttackers do not need prior access to the target environment; however, exploitation prerequisites require network connectivity to the listening port or client connection handler utilized by the Remote Desktop Client.\nImmediate defensive measures and adherence to strict network segmentation are strongly advised to limit exposure until official remediation is applied.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is fundamentally a stack-based buffer overflow residing within the packet parsing and handling routines of the Remote Desktop Client.\nThe root cause is identified as improper length validation when copying incoming network data into a fixed-size stack buffer. When the Remote Desktop Client processes an oversized or malformed data structure transmitted across the network, the boundary limits of the target buffer are exceeded.\nThis condition results in the overwriting of adjacent stack memory, which routinely includes critical execution control data such as the saved frame pointer and the return instruction pointer.\nExploitation occurs when an unauthorized remote attacker interacts with the Remote Desktop Client over a network protocol. The attacker transmits a maliciously crafted sequence of bytes designed to trigger the overflow condition upon ingestion by the vulnerable function.\nAs the parsing routine copies the malicious payload into the limited stack buffer, the overflowing data overwrites the return address on the stack. When the vulnerable function attempts to return execution control to its caller, the instruction pointer is redirected to the attacker-supplied payload, often incorporating return-oriented programming (ROP) chains to bypass security mitigations such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP).\nThe vulnerable component operates with network exposure, listening for or initiating connections that process untrusted data streams. Authentication is not required, as the overflow condition is triggered during the initial handshake or pre-authentication data exchange phase.\nPrivilege requirements are minimal, as an unauthenticated attacker interacting over the network can trigger the flaw directly.\nThe post-exploitation impact includes the execution of arbitrary shellcode or payloads within the context of the running Remote Desktop Client process, potentially allowing lateral movement, installation of persistent backdoors, or complete system compromise depending on the execution privileges of the user running the client."
}