CVE-2024-38428 is a critical vulnerability identified in GNU Wget versions up to and including 1.24.5. The flaw resides in the url.c component, specifically in the handling of semicolons within the userinfo subcomponent of a URI. In URI syntax, the userinfo subcomponent typically contains credentials or other user-related data preceding the host, separated by an '@' symbol. This vulnerability arises because Wget mishandles semicolons in this userinfo section, causing data that should remain confined to userinfo to be misinterpreted as part of the host subcomponent. This misinterpretation can lead to insecure behavior, such as incorrect resolution of hostnames or unintended network requests. The underlying weakness is classified under CWE-436, which relates to improper handling of user input or data components, leading to security issues. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.1 (critical) reflects the vulnerability's high impact: it can be exploited remotely (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality and integrity is high (C:H/I:H), while availability is not affected (A:N). Although no known exploits are reported in the wild yet, the nature of the vulnerability suggests that attackers could craft malicious URIs that exploit this parsing flaw to redirect Wget to unintended hosts, potentially leading to data leakage, man-in-the-middle attacks, or unauthorized data access during automated downloads. Since Wget is widely used in automated scripts, CI/CD pipelines, and system utilities across many environments, this vulnerability poses a significant risk if unpatched.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-38428 can be substantial, especially for those relying on GNU Wget for automated data retrieval, software updates, or system management. Misinterpretation of URI components could allow attackers to redirect Wget to malicious servers, leading to the exfiltration of sensitive data such as credentials or confidential files, or the injection of malicious payloads. This undermines confidentiality and integrity of data transfers. Critical infrastructure sectors, including finance, healthcare, and government agencies, often use Wget in automation and could face targeted attacks exploiting this flaw. Additionally, supply chain processes that depend on Wget for fetching external resources may be compromised, leading to broader systemic risks. The lack of required privileges or user interaction for exploitation increases the threat level, as attackers can remotely trigger the vulnerability without authentication. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not diminish the urgency for mitigation given the critical CVSS score and potential for rapid weaponization.

To mitigate CVE-2024-38428 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately update GNU Wget to a patched version once available from official repositories or maintainers. If a patch is not yet released, consider temporarily replacing Wget with alternative tools that do not exhibit this vulnerability. 2) Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any URIs passed to Wget in automated scripts, ensuring that userinfo components do not contain semicolons or suspicious characters. 3) Employ network-level controls such as DNS filtering and egress firewall rules to restrict Wget's ability to connect to untrusted or external hosts, limiting exposure to malicious redirections. 4) Monitor logs for unusual Wget activity, including unexpected hostnames or failed connections that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Review and harden CI/CD pipelines and automation scripts to verify the integrity and source of URIs used with Wget. 6) Educate system administrators and developers about this vulnerability to raise awareness and encourage prompt remediation. 7) Consider deploying application-layer proxies or security gateways that can inspect and sanitize HTTP requests initiated by Wget to prevent exploitation of URI parsing flaws.