CVE-2023-40187 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-40187, a Use-After-Free vulnerability found in FreeRDP, impacting versions in the 3.x beta branch.

Understanding CVE-2023-40187

CVE-2023-40187 is a Use-After-Free vulnerability discovered in FreeRDP, affecting versions within the 3.x beta branch.

What is CVE-2023-40187?

FreeRDP, a free implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), under the Apache license, contains a critical flaw. The flaw exists in the

avc420_ensure_buffer

and

avc444_ensure_buffer

functions, leading to a Use-After-Free issue.

The Impact of CVE-2023-40187

The Use-After-Free vulnerability in FreeRDP's affected versions can result in potential exploitation by threat actors, compromising system integrity and confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-40187

This section delves into the specifics of the CVE-2023-40187 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw occurs when

piDstSize[x]

equals 0, causing premature freeing of

ppYUVDstData[x]

. However, as

ppYUVDstData[x]

is not updated simultaneously, a Use-After-Free scenario arises, potentially leading to a security compromise.

Affected Systems and Versions

Users utilizing FreeRDP versions ranging from >= 3.0.0-beta1 to < 3.0.0-beta3 are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Threat actors can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code, bypass security mechanisms, or crash systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Preventive measures and actions to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-40187.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediate actions involve updating FreeRDP to version 3.0.0-beta3 or the latest stable release to eliminate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories, perform security audits, and prioritize software security updates to prevent future vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of software patches and updates to protect systems from known security risks.