Challenge Information - NRFIN_00066

Commonly known as: OUTLAW


Rounds Enabled

36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50

Details

Original Versions

Known Vulnerabilities

  • CWE-200 - Information Exposure
  • CWE-201 - Information Exposure Through Sent Data
  • CWE-300 - Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint ('Man-in-the-Middle')
  • CWE-310 - Cryptographic Issues
  • CWE-465 - Pointer Issues
  • CWE-514 - Covert Channel
  • CWE-515 - Covert Storage Channel
  • CWE-822 - Untrusted Pointer Dereference
  • CWEs are listed as indicated by the challenge author.

Deployed patches

Deployed IDS rules

None

Author Information

"Narf Industries" info@narfindustries.com

DARPA performer group

Narf Industries (NRFIN)

Description:

OUTLAW provides ACaaS (Authenticated Compute as a Service). The CB set implements a vulnerability similar to the TLS CRIME vulnerability by exposing a shared secret via a compression-like side channel. An additional memory corruption vulnerability can be exercised by authenticated clients (or an authenticated MitM).

The CB set is composed of 3 CBs: (1) a CLIENT that issues requests to the SERVER, (2) the SERVER that responds to CLIENT requests, (3) a TAP, which speaks to the CRS and provides active MitM functionality to the CRS in the context of the CGC framework.

First, the CLIENT (CB1) and the SERVER (CB2) speak directly to one another and come to agreement on (1) the encryption key (enckey) used to protect the authentication key, (2) the authentication key (auth_token) used to authenticate SERVER responses to CLIENT queries as well as expose authenticated functionality to the CLIENT.

After this negotiation, the emulated active MitM vantage point is installed; CLIENT and SERVER speak only through TAP. The TAP forwards all messages to the CRS, which is free to modify, drop, or forward the messages by sending a response to the TAP. The TAP then forwards the message to the appropriate destination.

The TAP architecture is intended to simulate an attacker that achieves active MitM following an exchange of secrets. It should be noted, however, that even if the CRS was an active MitM during the secret negotiation phase, the secrets would not be directly revealed anyway as they require flag page knowledge. The transition to TAP is provided as a means to demand additional reasoning on behalf of the CRS in line with what may happen in the real world.

Feature list:

The CLIENT and SERVER (and TAP) speak a well-defined protocol that provides the following functionality: SERVER-authenticated ADDs SERVER-authenticated SUBTRACTs SERVER-authenticated MULTIPLYs SERVER-authenticated DIVIDEs * CLIENT-authenticated MODIFICATIONs to existing functionality. Provided the auth_token, the CLIENT is permitted to reconfigure the ADD functionality as SUBTRACT and so on.

In order to achieve authenticated message capability and some other requisite functionality (e.g. a seed-able PRNG), this CB set implements a modified form of the (public domain) Tiny Encryption Algorithm. This modified TEA is used for both its key schedule (as PRNG output) and its encryption and decrytption capabilities (to protect the auth_token in transit). It should be noted that different keys are used for PRNG and encryption / decryption.

In order to implement a compression side channel, a bit-counting function that may be used as part of an RLE compression algorithm records the number of matching, starting bits between the answer to a CLIENT REQUEST and the auth_token.

Vulnerability 1

Vuln #1 is proved vulnerable by PoV #1 and is of type 1. It cannot be exercised without first exercising Vuln #2, so read that one first.

As a man in the middle, the attacker has successfully revealed the auth_token, as described below. With the auth_token, the attacker is able to exercise the OP_MOD functionality of the SERVER. This functionality is intended to allow the CLIENT to reconfigure the operations of the SERVER to redefine, say ADDITION to SUBTRACTION.

This feature is poorly implemented, but the designer's rationale is it's an authenticated feature anyway; what could go wrong? The implementation take a function pointer out of the message and writes it to an operations table. An attacker with the auth_token can therefore redirect a function pointer and later exercise the function pointer to achieve Type 1 PoV.

CWE classification

CWE-300: Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint ("Man in the Middle") CWE-465: Pointer Issues CWE-822: Untrusted Pointer Dereference

Challenges

  • Being able to speak effectively in the 3-CB TAP architecture.
  • Reasoning about what should be allowed on this interface (or deciding to remove it entirely).

Difficulty

The following assumes the attacker already solved Vuln #2, which is a blocker for Vuln #1. Although this is considered "easy", it is guarded by more difficult problems and should therefore be treated in series with Vuln #2.

  • Discovering is easy
  • Proving is easy
  • Fixing is easy

Vulnerability 2

Vuln #2 is a logic bug that inadvertently discloses contents of the flag page. Specifically, auth_token is taken directly from the flag page and may be leaked through a compression artifact side channel. This vulnerability is meant to emulate the TLS CRIME vulnerability.

To be more specific, RESPONSES from the SERVER to the CLIENT contain the answer to the CLIENTs query concatenated with the auth_token, encrypted under a shared key. In addition, unencrypted compression artifacts are included. This compression artifact is the number of bits in common between the answer and the auth_token. The real-world parallel is a partially implement RLE compression algorithm applied to concat(answer, auth_token) prior to encryption. The ability to compress (or not) the concatenated values reveals information about the secret auth_token.

The attacker is able to craft REQUESTs such that the (known) answer to the REQUESTs matches some number of leading bits with the auth_token. The attack progressively improves his guess by modifying his hypothesis according to the Number of Matching Bits (NMB) field in the SERVER RESPONSES.

After a maximum of 32 queries, the attacker has disclosed the auth_token through this side channel. The attacker is able to submit the auth_token as as Type 2 flag or use it to exercise authenticated functionality to achieve a Type 1 PoV (see above).

CWE classification

CWE-200: Information Disclosure CWE-201: Information Disclosure Through Sent Data CWE-300: Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint ("Man in the Middle") CWE-310: Cryptographic Issues CWE-514: Covert Channel CWE-515: Covert Storage Channel

There does not appear to be a CWE that explicitly covers compression side channels nor the type of logic bug present in TLS and exploited by CRIME. Notably, others have cited CWE-310 as the best category for the CRIME vulnerability - a very generic bucket.

Challenges

  • Being able to speak effectively in the 3-CB TAP architecture.
  • Reasoning through a somewhat complex side channel.

Difficulty

  • Discovering is medium
  • Proving is hard
  • Fixing is easy

POV Information

Round Source Destination Result POV Analysis Video
37 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
37 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
37 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
37 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
37 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
37 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
37 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
37 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
37 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
37 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
37 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
37 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
38 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
38 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
38 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
38 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
38 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
38 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
38 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
38 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
38 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
38 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
38 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
38 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
39 CodeJitsu Shellphish Failed POV through defenses POV Watch
39 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
39 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
39 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
39 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
39 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV through defenses POV Watch
39 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
39 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
39 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
39 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
39 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
39 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV through defenses POV Watch
39 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
40 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
40 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
40 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
40 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
40 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV through defenses POV Watch
40 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
40 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
40 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
40 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
40 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
40 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV through defenses POV Watch
40 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
41 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
41 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
41 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
41 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
41 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV through defenses POV Watch
41 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
41 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
41 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
41 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
41 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
41 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV through defenses POV Watch
41 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
42 CodeJitsu Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
42 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
42 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
42 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
42 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
42 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
42 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
42 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
42 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
42 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
42 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
42 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
42 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
43 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
43 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
43 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
43 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
43 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
43 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
43 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
43 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
43 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
43 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
43 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
43 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
44 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
44 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
44 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
44 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
44 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
44 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
44 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
44 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
44 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
44 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
44 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
44 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
45 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
45 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
45 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
45 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
45 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
45 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
45 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
45 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
45 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
45 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
45 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
45 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
46 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
46 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
46 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
46 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
46 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
46 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
46 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
46 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
46 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
46 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
46 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
46 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
46 ForAllSecure CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
46 ForAllSecure CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
46 ForAllSecure DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
46 ForAllSecure Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
46 ForAllSecure Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
46 ForAllSecure TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
47 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
47 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
47 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
47 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
47 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
47 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
47 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
47 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
47 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
47 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
47 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
47 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
47 ForAllSecure CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
47 ForAllSecure CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
47 ForAllSecure DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
47 ForAllSecure Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
47 ForAllSecure Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
47 ForAllSecure TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
48 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
48 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
48 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
48 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
48 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
48 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
48 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
48 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
48 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
48 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
48 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
48 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
48 ForAllSecure CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
48 ForAllSecure CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
48 ForAllSecure DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
48 ForAllSecure Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
48 ForAllSecure Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
48 ForAllSecure TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
49 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
49 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
49 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
49 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
49 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
49 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
49 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
49 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
49 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
49 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
49 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
49 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
49 ForAllSecure CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
49 ForAllSecure CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
49 ForAllSecure DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
49 ForAllSecure Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
49 ForAllSecure Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
49 ForAllSecure TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
50 CSDS CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
50 CSDS DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
50 CSDS Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
50 CSDS ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
50 CSDS Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
50 CSDS TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
50 DeepRed CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
50 DeepRed CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
50 DeepRed Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
50 DeepRed ForAllSecure Failed POV POV Watch
50 DeepRed Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
50 DeepRed TECHx Failed POV POV Watch
50 ForAllSecure CodeJitsu Failed POV POV Watch
50 ForAllSecure CSDS Failed POV POV Watch
50 ForAllSecure DeepRed Failed POV POV Watch
50 ForAllSecure Disekt Failed POV POV Watch
50 ForAllSecure Shellphish Failed POV POV Watch
50 ForAllSecure TECHx Failed POV POV Watch

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