Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2026-44178 is a high-severity Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122) vulnerability in Neutrinolabs Xrdp. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 41th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and AC-6 (Least Privilege) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-46028
Vulnerability Data
xrdp is an open source RDP server. Versions 0.10.6 and prior contain a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability within the virtual channel forwarding mechanism. When forwarding data from a remote client to the internal channel server, the xrdp process utilizes a…
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fixed-size buffer without adequate bounds checking on the incoming payload. An authenticated remote attacker can exploit this flaw by sending a specially crafted virtual channel message that exceeds the buffer capacity, leading to heap memory corruption. This may result in a denial of service or the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the xrdp process. This issue has been fixed in version 0.10.6.1.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Heap buffer overflow in xrdp RDP server enables remote authenticated RCE (DoS or arbitrary code with process privileges), directly facilitating exploitation of public-facing/remote services and potential privilege escalation.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly requires validation of all input (including virtual-channel payloads) to reject or sanitize data that would exceed buffer bounds, preventing the heap overflow.
Applies memory-protection mechanisms (e.g., ASLR, guard pages, non-executable heap) that raise the bar for successful exploitation of the resulting heap corruption.
Ensures the xrdp process runs with only the privileges needed for its function, limiting the impact of any arbitrary code execution that succeeds.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure-development practices directly require bounds checking and safe memory handling that prevent heap overflows.
Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover heap-overflow flaws but does not prevent their introduction in code.
Timely patching removes known heap-overflow instances after they exist.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing in development and acceptance can detect heap overflows before release.
Secure development lifecycle mandates practices that reduce the likelihood of introducing heap overflows.
Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory APIs that mitigate heap overflows.
Secure architecture and engineering principles include memory-safety and input-validation controls that address heap overflows.
Secure coding standards directly prescribe techniques (safe functions, bounds checks) that prevent heap-based buffer overflows.
Change management ensures controlled deployment of fixes for discovered heap-overflow vulnerabilities.