How severe is CVE-2026-54538?

CVE-2026-54538 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2026-54538 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (32nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-54538?

CVE-2026-54538 affects Neutrinolabs Xrdp. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2026-54538?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2026-54538 published?

CVE-2026-54538 was published on 2026-07-20 and last updated on 2026-07-22.

CVE-2026-54538

CVE-2026-54538 is a high-severity vulnerability in Neutrinolabs Xrdp with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-835.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (32nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-835
Affected product: Neutrinolabs Xrdp
Published: 2026-07-20
Last modified: 2026-07-22

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.

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.
How severe is CVE-2026-54538?: CVE-2026-54538 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2026-54538 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (32nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2026-54538?: CVE-2026-54538 affects Neutrinolabs Xrdp. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2026-54538?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2026-54538 published?: CVE-2026-54538 was published on 2026-07-20 and last updated on 2026-07-22.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:neutrinolabs:xrdp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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