CVE-2026-54538
HIGHDescription
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.
How to fix
TridentStack Control can deploy fixes like this automatically across your Windows, macOS, and Linux fleet. See how it works
Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Exploit Intelligence
Low risk: more likely to be exploited than 32% of all known CVEs.
References
Related Vulnerabilities
Other CWE-835 vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all
| CVE | Severity | CVSS | EPSS | Exploited | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2020-13935 | High | 7.5 | 87% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2020-36227 | High | 7.5 | 78% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2022-0778 | High | 7.5 | 73% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2024-20353 | High | 8.6 | 71% | KEV | - |
| CVE-2023-34966 | High | 7.5 | 62% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2019-14241 | High | 7.5 | 61% | - | - |
Common questions
How do I fix CVE-2026-54538?
Upgrade xrdp on debian unstable to 0.10.6.1-2 or later.
Is CVE-2026-54538 being actively exploited?
Not that we know of. CVE-2026-54538 is not in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score of 0.38% is the estimated probability that it will be exploited in the next 30 days. That is higher than 32% of all scored CVEs.
How severe is CVE-2026-54538?
CVE-2026-54538 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.5, rated high. CVSS rates the technical impact if the vulnerability is exploited, not how likely that is, so weigh it alongside the exploit-prediction score when you decide what to patch first.
What does CVE-2026-54538 affect?
Published advisories record a fix for xrdp (Debian). Only products with a sourced advisory are listed, so treat this as what we can cite rather than a complete inventory.
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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2026-07-22.