# CVE-2026-121955: FreeRDP use-after-free in smartcard emulation ReleaseContext

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121955-freerdp-before-3-32-2-contains-a-use-after-free-vulnerability-in  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-04. Updated: 2026-11-04  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-121955 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-11-04

FreeRDP is a remote desktop client that supports smartcard emulation for authentication. A malicious remote server can trigger a use-after-free vulnerability by sending a sequence of smartcard commands, causing the client to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability affects clients with smartcard emulation enabled.

Technologies: [FreeRDP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/freerdp). Vendors: [FreeRDP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/freerdp).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-121955 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-121955 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-121955?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 4 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** FreeRDP before 3.32.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-121955?** Yes: fixed in 3.32.2. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-121955 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-121955?** Check whether you run FreeRDP at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- Fixed in 3.32.2

## Technical details

The Emulate_SCardReleaseContext function frees the emulated SCardContext structure and its handle before the context's worker thread has been cancelled and joined, creating a race condition. An in-flight GETSTATUSCHANGE request continues reading from the freed memory after RELEASECONTEXT executes. A remote endpoint sending ESTABLISHCONTEXT followed by a long-timeout GETSTATUSCHANGE and then RELEASECONTEXT IRPs can trigger heap corruption or process crashes.

## Affected products

- FreeRDP FreeRDP before 3.32.2

## Timeline

- 2026-10-20: disclosed
- 2026-11-04: advisory

## References

- [https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-983v-jp34-f3fm](https://github.com/FreeRDP/FreeRDP/security/advisories/GHSA-983v-jp34-f3fm)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/freerdp-before-3.32.2-use-after-free-in-smartcard-emulation-releasecontext](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/freerdp-before-3.32.2-use-after-free-in-smartcard-emulation-releasecontext)

## Related threats

- [FreeRDP heap use-after-free in brush cache](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-125394-freerdp-before-3-33-0-contains-a-heap-use-after-free)
- [FreeRDP heap buffer overflow in RD Gateway RPC client](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121964-freerdp-before-3-32-2-contains-a-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in)
- [FreeRDP use-after-free in dynamic rdpsnd channel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121963-freerdp-before-3-32-2-contains-a-use-after-free-vulnerability-in)
- [FreeRDP denial of service in NLA shadow server via malformed TSRequest](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121960-freerdp-before-3-32-2-contains-a-denial-of-service-vulnerability)
- [FreeRDP heap out-of-bounds write in RDPGFX HashTable_GetKeys](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121958-freerdp-through-3-32-1-has-a-heap-out-of-bounds-write-in-the)