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Text highlighted ... in black

BB | Last updated: Jan 27, 2017 03:31PM UTC

Suddenly today, when I click in any Burp window that shows text, the text gets "highlighted" in black. And it's black text. So I can't see anything. If I open a different tool in Burp, and then come back, the view is restored, but only until I click in it. Then it goes black again. Screenshot from fresh Burp Project where I only browsed to Portswigger: https://postimg.org/image/gloo6vkjz/ Any ideas on cause or solution? I've tried restarting Burp. I've tried a fresh project file. I've tried "remove burp from this computer" (but when I clicked the Burp icon in my taskbar afterwards, Burp started back up again, so not sure how well that worked). Windows 8.1 Burp Pro 1.7.16, installed with the Windows 64 bit installer method. C:\>java -version java version "1.8.0_121" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_121-b13) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.121-b13, mixed mode) I'm going to try it on a different machine next, but I'm kind of committed to the one where it's gone goofy on me...

Burp User | Last updated: Jan 27, 2017 03:55PM UTC

Update: Uninstalled via "Programs and Features", rebooted, reinstalled from fresh download of Win 64bit installer. Opened new project file. Same problem. ... "Remove Burp from Computer" will all options checked. Manually deleted temp files after Burp closed. Rebooted. Uninstalled via "Programs and Features" Rebooted. Reinstalled. Opened new project file ... Same problem. ... 1.7.16 running as the jar file on my Linux box isn't showing this problem, and I can open my project files there, so I have a workaround for today.

Liam, PortSwigger Agent | Last updated: Jan 30, 2017 09:47AM UTC

Hi Brian Thanks for your message. Are you using the .jar or the .exe version of Burp Suite? The .exe version comes bundled with it's own version of Java.

Burp User | Last updated: Jan 30, 2017 08:05PM UTC

I'm using the exe version - Burp Pro 1.7.16, installed with the Windows 64 bit installer method.

Liam, PortSwigger Agent | Last updated: Jan 31, 2017 09:35AM UTC

Thanks for the additional information Brian. We'll try to reproduce this issue and get back to you.

Liam, PortSwigger Agent | Last updated: Jan 31, 2017 11:01AM UTC

Hi Brian I've tried reproducing this on Windows 8.1 with Burp Pro 1.7.16 installed using the Windows 64 bit installer. I've checked all display settings and I can't reproduce the issue. Have you tried altering the display settings at User Options > Display?

Burp User | Last updated: Feb 06, 2017 04:00PM UTC

Installing the 1.7.17 Windows x64 update has resolved this issue.

PortSwigger Agent | Last updated: Feb 06, 2017 05:05PM UTC

Hi Brian, Sorry to hear you're still having trouble. Can you send me your debug ID? It's in User options > Misc > Performance Feedback

Burp User | Last updated: Jun 28, 2017 03:06PM UTC

...and it's happening again now. Still Windows 8.1, still 64-bit installed version. Now on version 1.7.23. Screenshot: https://postimg.org/image/oz9kail3b/

PortSwigger Agent | Last updated: Jun 29, 2017 09:30AM UTC

Hi Brian, I've looked at this some more and I cannot reproduce it - on what I think is an identical system. Does this occur all the time? If you open a fresh burp, type some text in Repeater - does highlighting come up black initially? If it's intermittent, any information you can provide on how to trigger the behavior would be very helpful. Also, I think you're using the Metal theme. Does this occur with the default Nimbus theme?

Burp User | Last updated: Jun 29, 2017 04:12PM UTC

It's intermittent - was working fine last time on the same VM and same Burp installation. But once it starts, I can't make it stop, even by uninstall/reinstall or using the jar version or older versions. Yes, it happens with the Nimbus theme as well. I'm doing this in a VirtualBox VM. (Virtualbox 5.1.22 on Ubuntu 16.04. VM is Windows 8.1 Pro) I got it working late yesterday by disabling all hardware acceleration for video in the VM config. At least, that's the last thing I did before it started working... I'll change it back after I'm done with this test and see if I can get you a clearer root cause.

PortSwigger Agent | Last updated: Jun 30, 2017 07:00AM UTC

Hi Brian, Disabling hardware acceleration was a good idea, lets hope that resolves it. When the issue occurs, does rebooting the system help? Try both the VM and the host. I have a feeling this is a bad interaction between Virtual Box and your graphics card. We've not had other reports of this issue so it must be something unusual. Are you using the VM directly within Virtual Box? An alternative is to remote desktop from your host to the VM. I actually do that routinely as I slightly prefer the experience. In your case it may side-step the issue.

Burp User | Last updated: Jun 30, 2017 02:55PM UTC

Good idea about RDP. I will try that if it happens again. I do seem to be the only one with this issue, so ...

Burp User | Last updated: Feb 15, 2018 12:47PM UTC

I experienced the same issues in Windows 10 on Virtualbox where I installed Burp via exe installer. It seems to be a Virtualbox 3D hardware acceleration issue. The workaround is simply disabling 3D hardware acceleration in the Virtualbox settings under Display uncheck the checkbox "Enable 3D hardware acceleration". I rebooted the VM in between and only changed this setting in between reboots. There are topics discussed at Virtualbox: https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/14985 The download page https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads currently states: "Important: The Guest Additions which come with VirtualBox 5.2.6 and 5.1.32 do not work properly on Linux guests with 3D enabled. Here are updated versions for 5.2.6 and 5.1.32.". Although I have a Windows guest, that might still indicate that work is being done in the 3D hardware acceleration feature...

Burp User | Last updated: Feb 15, 2018 02:03PM UTC