CVE-2026-54538

HIGH
Published Jul 20, 2026 Modified Jul 21, 2026 CWE-835

Description

xrdp is an open source RDP server. In versions 0.10.6 and prior, a n issue was discovered where the software fails to properly validate the totalLength field within the RDP protocol control header during packet reception. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted packet that forces the xrdp process or thread into an infinite, CPU-bound loop. Because the internal pointer fails to advance and the deadlock prevention mechanism is bypassed for specific protocol data unit types, the process consumes excessive CPU resources indefinitely. This can render the xrdp service unavailable and potentially lead to system-wide resource exhaustion if multiple malicious connections are established. This issue has been fixed in version 0.10.6.1.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

7.5
HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0072
Probability of exploitation
0.50%
Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-835 CWE-835

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-54538? +
xrdp is an open source RDP server. In versions 0.10.6 and prior, a n issue was discovered where the software fails to properly validate the totalLength field within the RDP protocol control header during packet reception. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted packet that forces the xrdp process or thread into an infinite, CPU-bound loop. Because the internal pointer fails to advance and the deadlock prevention mechanism is bypassed for specific protocol data unit types, the process consumes excessive CPU resources indefinitely. This can render the xrdp service unavailable and potentially lead to system-wide resource exhaustion if multiple malicious connections are established. This issue has been fixed in version 0.10.6.1. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2026-54538? +
CVE-2026-54538 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0072, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.
How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-54538? +
You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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