As organizations increasingly rely on remote work capabilities and larger cloud systems, they become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Among these attacks, privilege escalation is a prevalent and complex threat that can target any network asset. Organizations need multiple defense strategies to protect against such threats that recognize the possibility of exploiting any entry point. An essential step in prevention and defense is understanding the privilege escalation process and its types. So in this article, we have discussed types of privilege escalation attacks.

What is Privilege Escalation?

Privilege escalation is a cyber attack in which attackers gain elevated privileges on a system or network beyond what they were initially authorized for. This unauthorized access can be used to steal sensitive data, install malware or gain control of the system.

Types of Privilege Escalation Attacks

Privilege escalation attacks can be broadly classified into two main types based on the direction of escalation: vertical privilege escalation and horizontal privilege escalation.

1. Vertical privilege escalation: This type of attack involves an attacker gaining higher privileges than what they are initially authorized for. This can occur by exploiting system or application software vulnerabilities or kernel-based vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflow or code injection attacks. The attacker can then use the higher privileges to access sensitive data, install malware, or perform other malicious actions.

2. Horizontal privilege escalation: This type of attack occurs when an attacker gains access to another user's account with the same privilege level. This is typically achieved through techniques such as password cracking or session hijacking. After gaining access, an attacker can use the compromised account to perform unauthorized transactions or access sensitive data.

Privilege Escalation Techniques or Methods

Attackers use several common privilege escalation techniques or methods to gain elevated privileges. Here are a few of the most prevalent:

● Exploiting software vulnerabilities: Attackers can exploit software or operating system vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflow or code injection, to execute arbitrary code with higher privileges.

● Misconfigured systems: Attackers can use techniques with misconfigured security settings, such as incorrect permissions or insecure default configurations, to gain higher privileges.

● Password cracking: Attackers can use password-cracking tools or techniques to guess or crack user passwords and gain access to accounts with higher privileges.

● Social engineering: Attackers can use social engineering tactics, such as phishing or pretexting, to trick users into divulging their login credentials or other sensitive information.

● Physical access: Attackers can gain physical access to a device or network, bypassing security controls and gaining higher privileges.

● Session hijacking: Attackers can hijack a user's session to gain access to the user's account with the same privilege level.

● Privilege escalation in virtual environments: Attackers can exploit virtualization software vulnerabilities to access the host system or other virtual machines with higher privileges.

Final Thoughts:

Privilege escalation attacks are a significant threat to the security of systems and networks. Attackers can use different techniques to escalate their privileges and gain access to restricted areas, steal sensitive data, or perform malicious activities. Organizations must implement security best practices, such as access controls, regular vulnerability assessments, and security awareness training for their employees.

InfosecTrain can help individuals and organizations enhance their knowledge and skills in information security, including preventing and detecting privilege escalation attacks. We offer several training courses and workshops that cover different aspects of cybersecurity, including ethical hacking, penetration testing, incident response, and many more.