CVE-2026-42985: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Remote Desktop client for Windows Desktop
CVE-2026-42985 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability in the Microsoft Remote Desktop client for Windows Desktop. It involves a heap-based buffer overflow that could allow an unauthorized attacker to execute code remotely over a network. An official fix is available from Microsoft to address this issue.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-42985 is a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in Microsoft Remote Desktop client for Windows Desktop, specifically affecting version 1.2.0.0. The flaw results in a heap-based buffer overflow that could be exploited by an attacker without privileges or user interaction to execute arbitrary code remotely. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8, indicating high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has released an official fix to remediate this vulnerability.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely on the affected system, potentially leading to full compromise of the Remote Desktop client environment. This impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users and administrators should apply the patch provided by Microsoft as detailed in the vendor advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42985 to remediate this vulnerability.
CVE-2026-42985: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Remote Desktop client for Windows Desktop
Description
CVE-2026-42985 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability in the Microsoft Remote Desktop client for Windows Desktop. It involves a heap-based buffer overflow that could allow an unauthorized attacker to execute code remotely over a network. An official fix is available from Microsoft to address this issue.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.8high
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-42985 is a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in Microsoft Remote Desktop client for Windows Desktop, specifically affecting version 1.2.0.0. The flaw results in a heap-based buffer overflow that could be exploited by an attacker without privileges or user interaction to execute arbitrary code remotely. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8, indicating high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has released an official fix to remediate this vulnerability.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely on the affected system, potentially leading to full compromise of the Remote Desktop client environment. This impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users and administrators should apply the patch provided by Microsoft as detailed in the vendor advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42985 to remediate this vulnerability.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- microsoft
- Date Reserved
- 2026-04-30T23:43:50.746Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- official-fix
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42985","vendor":"Microsoft"}]
Threat ID: 6a284ccb8dd33fbd85664954
Added to database: 6/9/2026, 5:26:35 PM
Last enriched: 6/9/2026, 10:56:11 PM
Last updated: 6/10/2026, 4:48:53 AM
Views: 2
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