40 Methods for Privilege Escalation

Privilege escalation is a critical phase in penetration testing, where an attacker exploits vulnerabilities to gain higher-level permissions within a system or network. For ethical hackers, mastering this skill is essential to evaluate system security and recommend appropriate mitigations effectively.

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into 40 methods for privilege escalation, categorized by platform (Windows, Linux, and others), and discuss how ethical hackers can use these methods responsibly to strengthen cybersecurity.

Understanding Privilege Escalation

Privilege escalation occurs when a user gains access to privileges or permissions beyond what was intended. This can happen in two forms:

1. Vertical Privilege Escalation: Gaining higher privileges, like escalating from a regular user to an administrator.
2. Horizontal Privilege Escalation: Gaining access to another user’s account with similar privilege levels.

Why It Matters

Understanding privilege escalation is critical for:

• Identifying vulnerabilities that attackers might exploit.
• Testing systems for compliance with security standards.
• Educating organizations about effective…