PS4 KHook: Kernel Hooking Payload for Exploit Debugging by SpecterDev

Since his MUSL PS4 Port Low-Level Details and proceeding the recent ipv6-df-3.c proof-of-concept (PoC), today PlayStation 4 Scene developer @SpecterDev shared via Twitter PS4 KHook which is a minimalist kernel hooking payload he wrote for the DayZeroSec Twitch Stream that’s handy for exploit debugging! :geek:

Download: PS4-KHook-master.zip / GIT

Here’s further details from the README.md, to quote: PS4 KHook

PS4 KHook is a minimalist kernel hooking payload. It targets 5.05 but it can be used with any firmware (or even non-PS4 systems) with modifications. It’s primary intent is for exploit development / debugging though it can be used anywhere hooking is needed (though Mira is recommended for long-term hooks for things like homebrew). It doesn’t require a daemon to run for state tracking as it uses a code cave and a dispatch table.

⚠️ Warning: the implementation is pretty hacky and it’s not yet complete. Feel free to fork and pull request any improvements or TODO items.

Building and running

To build this payload you’ll need the PS4 Payload *** from Scene Collective. Once installed, simply build this payload like so:

Code:
$ make clean
$ make
$ cat PS4-KHook.bin | nc [ps4ip:payloadport]

Important caveats

This hooking payload does have some caveats you need to be aware of before writing and installing hooks.

  • Hooks must only have one return path, and it must return 0x1337. Additionally, the payload must be compiled without optimization (-O0). The reason for this is due to the runtime function size calculation for the hooks.
  • Trampolines must be a minimum size of 10 bytes (0xA bytes).
  • Trampolines cannot contain any instructions that use RIP-relative addressing (including calls, jumps, or RIP-relative data reads/writes).
  • Kernel offsets and the code cave are for 5.05 firmware. To use this on other firmwares you’ll need to port these offsets.

Adding your own hooks

Hooks should be defined in hooks.c with prototypes in hooks.h. These files already have two example hooks I wrote for debugging stuff with the IP6_EXTHDR_CHECK UAF from theflow. Use the following template for hook functions:

Code:
int my_hook()
{
    SAVE_REGISTERS;

// [hook code]

    RESTORE_REGISTERS;
return 0x1337;
}

For installing hooks, reference main.c. Here’s an example for installing my_hook on the sys_dynlib_prepare_dlclose syscall with hook ID 1:

Code:
#define HOOK_DYNLIB_PREPARE_DLCLOSE     0x239380

// ...

char *kexecArgsBuffer = mmap(KEXEC_ARGS_BUFFER, 0x4000, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_ANONYMOUS | MAP_PRIVATE, -1, 0);

if(kexecArgsBuffer != KEXEC_ARGS_BUFFER)
return -1;

struct install_hook_args *installHookArgs = (struct install_hook_args *)kexecArgsBuffer;

installHookArgs->id = 1;
installHookArgs->targetOffset = (uint64_t *)HOOK_DYNLIB_PREPARE_DLCLOSE;
installHookArgs->trampolineSize = 0xA;
installHookArgs->hookFunctionAddr = (uint64_t *)&my_hook;
installHookArgs->hookFunctionSize = get_function_size((uint8_t *)&my_hook);

The argument that will require some manual work to figure out and ensure you set properly is the trampoline size, since it cannot be automatically calculated, it’s dependent on where you hook. This is because x86 has variable sized instructions, so if your trampoline size is incorrect, a crash will occur due to executing invalid instructions (or valid instructions that have unintended behavior).

Again, keep in mind it has to be at least 0xA size and possibly larger depending on the instructions at the hook location.

TODO

  • Rework dispatch table to allow for a smaller code cave by pivoting to a heap-allocated dispatch table
  • Fix up RIP-relative instructions to allow them inside trampolines
  • Possibly do more robust function size calculation (size directives?)

License

Specter (Cryptogenic) – SpecterDev

This project is licensed under the WTFPL license – see the LICENSE.md file for details.

Thanks

PS4 KHook Kernel Hooking Payload for Exploit Debugging by SpecterDev.jpg