CVE-2018-20177
rdesktop versions up to and including v1.8.3 contain an Integer Overflow that leads to a Heap-Based Buffer Overflow in the function rdp_in_unistr() and results in memory corruption and possibly even a remote code execution.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (7.93%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
rdesktop versions up to and including v1.8.3 contain an Integer Overflow that leads to a Heap-Based Buffer Overflow in the function rdp_in_unistr() and results in memory corruption and possibly even a remote code execution.
- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 7.93% probability · 95th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-190, CWE-787
- Affected
- rdesktop/rdesktop · debian/debian linux · opensuse/backports · opensuse/leap
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 7.9% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00040.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106938Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://github.com/rdesktop/rdesktop/commit/4dca546d04321a610c1835010b5dad85163b65e1Patch
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/02/msg00030.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://research.checkpoint.com/reverse-rdp-attack-code-execution-on-rdp-clients/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-06Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4394Third Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00040.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106938Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://github.com/rdesktop/rdesktop/commit/4dca546d04321a610c1835010b5dad85163b65e1Patch
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/02/msg00030.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://research.checkpoint.com/reverse-rdp-attack-code-execution-on-rdp-clients/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-06Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4394Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.