CVE-2026-40228
Description
A flaw was found in systemd-journald. When the ForwardToWall=yes configuration is enabled, a local user who executes a logger -p emerg command can cause systemd-journald to send ANSI escape sequences to the terminals of other arbitrary users. This can lead to unintended output appearing on user terminals, potentially causing confusion or minor disruption.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| Attack Vector | Local | Local | Local |
| Attack Complexity | High | Low | High |
| Privileges Required | None | Low | None |
| User Interaction | None | None | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None | None | None |
| Integrity Impact | Low | Low | Low |
| Availability Impact | None | None | None |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability,Non-Repudiation
Technical Impact: Modify Application Data; Hide Activities; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Interpretation of the log files may be hindered or misdirected if an attacker can supply data to the application that is subsequently logged verbatim. In the most benign case, an attacker may be able to insert false entries into the log file by providing the application with input that includes appropriate characters. Forged or otherwise corrupted log files can be used to cover an attacker's tracks, possibly by skewing statistics, or even to implicate another party in the commission of a malicious act. If the log file is processed automatically, the attacker can render the file unusable by corrupting the format of the file or injecting unexpected characters. An attacker may inject code or other commands into the log file and take advantage of a vulnerability in the log processing utility.
Frequently Asked Questions
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