Abstract In this paper, we investigate the secrecy performance of the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wiretap channels in the presence of an active full-duplex eavesdropper with consideration of channel estimation error at the legitimate destination and eavesdropper. For this purpose, the probability density functions (PDFs) and cumulative density functions (CDFs) of the receive signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) at the destination and eavesdropper are given by conducting the singular value decomposition (SVD) on the estimated channel coefficient matrices. Consequently, the closed- form expressions for the probability of positive secrecy capacity and secrecy outage probability over Rayleigh fading channels are derived. Finally, the Monte-Carlo simulation results are presented to validate the accuracy of our theoretical analysis.