Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-8787 affects FreeRDP versions before 2.0.0-rc4. A malicious or compromised RDP server may be able to trigger memory corruption in a FreeRDP client, with possible remote code execution. Treat this as a serious client-side exposure where FreeRDP is used for remote desktop access.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where FreeRDP is used by administrators, support teams, or automation to connect to RDP servers. The business risk is compromise of client systems from a server-side interaction, even without confirmed active exploitation.
Technical view
The flaw is an integer overflow leading to a heap-based buffer overflow in FreeRDP's gdi_Bitmap_Decompress() function. The CVE description states memory corruption and probable remote code execution. The bundle does not include CVSS data, and CISA KEV status is false.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux or Unix systems using FreeRDP client libraries or packaged FreeRDP versions prior to 2.0.0-rc4, including environments covered by Debian, Ubuntu, and Red Hat advisories.
Exploitation context
The provided sources support possible remote code execution against FreeRDP clients, but they do not establish active exploitation in the wild. KEV is false, so do not treat exploitation as confirmed from this bundle alone.
Researcher notes
Focus review on FreeRDP bitmap decompression paths and downstream package patch status. The source bundle identifies CWE-680 and a fixing commit, but lacks CVSS, detailed exploit prerequisites, and confirmed exploit-in-the-wild evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade FreeRDP to 2.0.0-rc4 or a vendor-fixed package.
- Apply relevant Debian, Ubuntu, or Red Hat security updates where applicable.
- Restrict use of FreeRDP to trusted RDP servers until patched.
- Check vendor guidance for any platform-specific fixed package versions.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed FreeRDP packages and library versions.
- Confirm deployed versions are not earlier than 2.0.0-rc4 or are vendor-patched.
- Check package manager advisory status against Debian, Ubuntu, or Red Hat notices.
- Review remote desktop workflows for FreeRDP client use against untrusted servers.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-680: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-8787 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190209 [SECURITY] [DLA 1666-1] freerdp security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- USN-3845-1CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_UBUNTU
- https://research.checkpoint.com/reverse-rdp-attack-code-execution-on-rdp-clients/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/commit/09b9d4f1994a674c4ec85b4947aa656eda1aed8aCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- RHSA-2019:0697CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- USN-3845-2CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_UBUNTU
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow
Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.