In this blog, you’ll learn how an attacker escalates privileges on Windows systems using a step-by-step process. With higher-level privileges, an attacker can move freely around the network without detection.Įxamples illustrating the difference between vertical and horizontal privilege escalation Horizontal privilege escalation, the more common method, is when an attacker gains access to another credential on the network with higher privileges than the initial one used to gain their foothold.For example, they might add the compromised account to the local administrator group. They then look for ways to increase their privileges using the same account. Vertical privilege escalation, sometimes referred to as privilege elevation, is when an attacker compromises a user account that has limited permissions on a system.To achieve those goals, an attacker employs a variety of strategies to escalate privileges: They’re looking for access to business-critical systems so they can deploy ransomware, threaten shutdown, and demand financial payment. They’re looking for more sensitive data they can resell on the Dark Web. That password may enable certain privileges, for example, it may only unlock data stored locally on a laptop. Let’s say an attacker successfully steals a User’s password and gains access to their account. With Domain Administrator access, they own the entire network.Īn attacker may employ a variety of strategies to escalate privileges With NT Authority\System access, attackers have full access to one system. From a hacker’s perspective, privilege escalation is the art of increasing privileges from initial access, which is typically that of a standard user or application account, all the way up to administrator, root, or even full system access. Privilege escalation is also one of the most common techniques attackers use to discover and exfiltrate sensitive valuable data. For example, users may need access to troubleshoot a technical problem, run a quarterly financial report, or install a program.
For trusted users, privilege escalation allows expanded access for a limited time to complete specific tasks. Privilege escalation is the process by which a user with limited access to IT systems can increase the scope and scale of their access permissions.
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