Windows Privilege Escalation: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Privilege escalation is a critical concept in cybersecurity that allows attackers to gain elevated access to resources that are typically restricted to higher-privileged accounts. Windows, as a dominant operating system in enterprise environments, is a prime target for such attacks. Understanding Windows privilege escalation techniques is vital for both offensive and defensive security practitioners. In this blog, we will explore the fundamentals, techniques, and prevention strategies related to Windows privilege escalation.

What is Privilege Escalation?

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker gains unauthorized access to higher privileges than initially granted. This can be categorized into two types:

1. Vertical Privilege Escalation: The attacker gains access to accounts with higher privileges, such as administrator or SYSTEM-level access.
2. Horizontal Privilege Escalation: The attacker moves laterally by accessing accounts with the same privilege level but different access rights.

Why Windows is a Target for Privilege Escalation

1. Wide Adoption: Windows is widely used in corporate and government environments.