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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-40228

🗓️ 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com

Unpatched CVE-2026-40228 on Linux with systemd journald allows ANSI sequences to terminals; no patch

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
ATTACKERKB
CVE-2026-40228
10 Apr 202615:48
attackerkb
CNNVD
systemd 安全漏洞
10 Apr 202600:00
cnnvd
CVE
CVE-2026-40228
10 Apr 202615:48
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2026-40228
10 Apr 202615:48
cvelist
Debian CVE
CVE-2026-40228
10 Apr 202615:48
debiancve
EUVD
EUVD-2026-21498
10 Apr 202618:31
euvd
NVD
CVE-2026-40228
10 Apr 202616:16
nvd
OSV
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-40228
10 Apr 202616:16
osv
OSV
ECHO-8F9F-FBF5-041F
11 Apr 202609:16
osv
OSV
RHSA-2026:7299 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs bug fix and enhancement update
20 Apr 202610:11
osv
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#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(307026);
  script_version("1.6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/05/22");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2026-40228");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-40228");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - In systemd 259, systemd-journald can send ANSI escape sequences to the terminals of arbitrary users when a
    logger -p emerg command is executed, if ForwardToWall=yes is set. (CVE-2026-40228)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-40228");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-40228");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:P/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2026-40228");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2026/04/10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2026/04/17");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:24.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:25.10");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:11.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:12.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:13.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:14.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:systemd");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:systemd");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Debian Linux-11", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-12", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-13", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-14", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-14.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-16.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-18.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-20.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-22.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-24.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-25.10");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Debian Linux-12": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "12",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-shared"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "libudev1-udeb"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-homed"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-oomd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-resolved"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-sysusers"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-tmpfiles"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "systemd-timesyncd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-userdbd"},
          {"reference": "udev"},
          {"reference": "udev-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-11": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "11",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "libudev1-udeb"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "systemd-timesyncd"},
          {"reference": "udev"},
          {"reference": "udev-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-20.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "20.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "libudev1-udeb"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "systemd-timesyncd"},
          {"reference": "udev"},
          {"reference": "udev-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-13": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "13",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-shared"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi-amd64-signed-template"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi-arm64-signed-template"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-tools"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-cryptsetup"},
          {"reference": "systemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "systemd-homed"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-oomd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-repart"},
          {"reference": "systemd-resolved"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-shutdown"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-sysusers"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-tmpfiles"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "systemd-timesyncd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-ukify"},
          {"reference": "systemd-userdbd"},
          {"reference": "udev"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-14": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-shared"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi-amd64-signed-template"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi-arm64-signed-template"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-tools"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-cryptsetup"},
          {"reference": "systemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "systemd-homed"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-oomd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-repart"},
          {"reference": "systemd-resolved"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-shutdown"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-sysusers"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-tmpfiles"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "systemd-timesyncd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-ukify"},
          {"reference": "systemd-userdbd"},
          {"reference": "udev"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-14.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "gir1.2-gudev-1.0"},
          {"reference": "libgudev-1.0-0"},
          {"reference": "libgudev-1.0-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-daemon-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-daemon0"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-id128-0"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-id128-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-journal-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-journal0"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-login-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-login0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "libudev1-udeb"},
          {"reference": "python-systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-services"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "udev"},
          {"reference": "udev-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-16.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "16.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "libudev1-udeb"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-dbg"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "udev"},
          {"reference": "udev-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-18.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "18.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "libudev1-udeb"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "udev"},
          {"reference": "udev-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-22.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "22.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "libudev1-udeb"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-oomd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-sysusers"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-tmpfiles"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "systemd-timesyncd"},
          {"reference": "udev"},
          {"reference": "udev-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-24.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "24.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-shared"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "libudev1-udeb"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "systemd-homed"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-oomd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-resolved"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-sysusers"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-tmpfiles"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "systemd-timesyncd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-ukify"},
          {"reference": "systemd-userdbd"},
          {"reference": "udev"},
          {"reference": "udev-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-25.10": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "25.10",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libnss-myhostname"},
          {"reference": "libnss-mymachines"},
          {"reference": "libnss-resolve"},
          {"reference": "libnss-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libpam-systemd"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd-shared"},
          {"reference": "libsystemd0"},
          {"reference": "libudev-dev"},
          {"reference": "libudev1"},
          {"reference": "systemd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-efi"},
          {"reference": "systemd-boot-tools"},
          {"reference": "systemd-container"},
          {"reference": "systemd-coredump"},
          {"reference": "systemd-cryptsetup"},
          {"reference": "systemd-dev"},
          {"reference": "systemd-homed"},
          {"reference": "systemd-journal-remote"},
          {"reference": "systemd-oomd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-repart"},
          {"reference": "systemd-resolved"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-shutdown"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-sysusers"},
          {"reference": "systemd-standalone-tmpfiles"},
          {"reference": "systemd-sysv"},
          {"reference": "systemd-tests"},
          {"reference": "systemd-timesyncd"},
          {"reference": "systemd-ukify"},
          {"reference": "systemd-userdbd"},
          {"reference": "udev"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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22 May 2026 00:00Current
5.9Medium risk
Vulners AI Score5.9
CVSS 3.12.9 - 3.3
EPSS0.00005
SSVC
0