The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28085 affects the 'wall' command in util-linux versions up to 2.40. The 'wall' utility is commonly used on Unix-like systems to send messages to all logged-in users' terminals. Typically, escape sequences from standard input are blocked to prevent terminal control code injection. However, this vulnerability arises because escape sequences passed via command-line arguments (argv) are not filtered or blocked, allowing an attacker to inject terminal control sequences into other users' terminal sessions. Since 'wall' is often installed with setgid tty permissions, it runs with elevated privileges to write to other users' terminals. An attacker with limited local privileges can exploit this to send crafted escape sequences that may manipulate terminal behavior, potentially tricking users or executing unintended commands, which could lead to account compromise in plausible scenarios. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-150 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, but here related to terminal escape sequences). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.3, indicating low severity due to the need for local access, limited privileges, no user interaction, and no direct confidentiality impact. No public exploits are known at this time, and no patches have been linked yet, but the issue is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-28085 is primarily on the integrity of terminal sessions in multi-user environments. Attackers with local access could inject malicious escape sequences into other users' terminals, potentially leading to session hijacking, command injection, or social engineering attacks that might escalate to account takeover. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability, the ability to manipulate terminal output can undermine trust and operational security. Organizations running multi-user Linux systems, especially those using util-linux versions up to 2.40 with setgid tty permissions, are at risk. Critical infrastructure, academic institutions, and enterprises relying on shared Unix/Linux servers could see increased risk if attackers gain local access. The low CVSS score reflects limited exploitability and impact, but the potential for account takeover in certain scenarios warrants attention. The absence of known exploits suggests the threat is currently low but could increase if weaponized.

To mitigate CVE-2024-28085, European organizations should: 1) Monitor vendor advisories and apply patches or updates to util-linux as soon as they become available to address this vulnerability. 2) Restrict the use of the 'wall' command to trusted users only by adjusting permissions or using access control mechanisms such as sudoers configurations to limit who can invoke 'wall'. 3) Consider removing setgid tty permissions from 'wall' if operationally feasible, reducing the risk of privilege escalation. 4) Implement strict local user account management and monitoring to detect unusual usage of 'wall' or terminal escape sequences. 5) Educate users about the risks of terminal manipulation and encourage vigilance when unexpected terminal behavior occurs. 6) Employ endpoint security solutions capable of detecting anomalous terminal activity or command injection attempts. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling access to the vulnerable utility and monitoring for exploitation attempts.