What is Privilege Escalation?
Privilege escalation refers to a security vulnerability that allows a user with limited privileges on a computer system to gain higher-level privileges. These types of attacks are often carried out by exploiting security flaws in the system and aim to gain administrator-level access. Privilege escalation attacks are categorized into two main types: horizontal and vertical privilege escalation.
Horizontal Privilege Escalation: This occurs when a user gains the privileges of another user of the same level. For instance, a regular user accessing another regular user's emails.
Vertical Privilege Escalation: This occurs when a user gains the privileges of a higher-level user, such as a system administrator. This type of escalation can potentially cause more damage.
Privilege Escalation in Penetration Testing
Penetration testing (pentest) involves simulated attacks aimed at identifying security vulnerabilities in a system. Identifying privilege escalation vulnerabilities is a crucial component of these tests. Privilege escalation testing is essential for understanding the security posture of a system.
Methods of Privilege Escalation:
- Vulnerability Scanners: Use automated tools to detect potential vulnerabilities in the system.
- Manual Testing: Security experts manually search for vulnerabilities for a more in-depth analysis.
- Exploits: Utilize known vulnerabilities to attempt privilege escalation.
Preventive Measures:
- Updates: Keep software and operating systems up to date.
- Strong Password Policies: Use complex and hard-to-guess passwords.
- Restricted User Privileges: Ensure users only have the permissions they need.
- Vulnerability Management: Conduct regular vulnerability scans and assessments.
By understanding and addressing privilege escalation vulnerabilities, organizations can better protect their systems from potential breaches and unauthorized access.
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