Errors when running the Telnet_Login Module for Metasplot

Question

I am trying to telnet into a VLE (virtual lab environment) for a project, but I keep running into the same errors. Each time I try to run the module, I get a "The following options failed to validate: USER_FILE, PASS_FILE.

I followed the steps verbatim with the link below from Offensive Security. I also tried setting the IP to a single IP and not the "/24" option. Both failed. I also tried using the path to the desktop, and also the way that the captures text shows.

https://www.offensive-security.com/metasploit-unleashed/scanner-telnet-auxiliary-modules/

The system should force a telnet connection and capture the user name and password.

Results:

Auxiliary failed: Msf::OptionValidateError The following options failed to validate: USER_FILE, PASS_FILE.

Metasploit version

4.16.18-dev-5cdd364

Additional Information

unable to update as this is a virtual machine provided by my university for running labs.

msf auxiliary(telnet_login) > show options

Module options (auxiliary/scanner/telnet/telnet_login):

Name Current Setting Required Description

---

BLANK_PASSWORDS false no Try blank passwords for all users BRUTEFORCE_SPEED 5 yes How fast to bruteforce, from 0 to 5 DB_ALL_CREDS false no Try each user/password couple stored in the current database DB_ALL_PASS false no Add all passwords in the current database to the list DB_ALL_USERS false no Add all users in the current database to the list PASSWORD no A specific password to authenticate with PASS_FILE passwords.txt no File containing passwords, one per line RHOSTS 10.139.46.121/24 yes The target address range or CIDR identifier RPORT 23 yes The target port (TCP) STOP_ON_SUCCESS false yes Stop guessing when a credential works for a host THREADS 254 yes The number of concurrent threads USERNAME no A specific username to authenticate as USERPASS_FILE no File containing users and passwords separated by space, one pair per line USER_AS_PASS false no Try the username as the password for all users USER_FILE users.txt no File containing usernames, one per line VERBOSE false yes Whether to print output for all attempts

msf auxiliary(telnet_login) > set USER_FILE users.txt
USER_FILE => users.txt
msf auxiliary(telnet_login) > set RHOSTS 10.139.46.121
RHOSTS => 10.139.46.121
msf auxiliary(telnet_login) > set PASS_FILE passwords.txt
PASS_FILE => passwords.txt
msf auxiliary(telnet_login) > run
[-] Auxiliary failed: Msf::OptionValidateError The following options failed to validate:      USER_FILE, PASS_FILE.
msf auxiliary(telnet_login) >

Answer 1

Try using unset USER_FILE and all that. Maybe you have bad data in there.