Privilege Escalation is a type of attack that hackers can use to obtain higher levels of access to a computer system. It involves exploiting vulnerabilities and security flaws in the system to gain access to more privileged functions and data. This type of attack is not limited to computer systems since any system that grants access to restricted resources can be subjected to privilege escalation.
The aim of privilege escalation is to gain more control over the system by increasing their access rights. For example, a hacker can start by having access to limited functions, such as being able to view certain files or view the system logs. Unauthorised privilege escalation may allow them to gain more control, such as being able to modify or delete files, view databases, or even shut down the system.
Privilege escalation can be carried out by exploiting known software vulnerabilities, exploiting mistakes made by administrators, or by using certain attack techniques. Someprivilege escalation techniques include leveraging a backdoor, loading a malicious shared library, using a vulnerable command-line program, or exploiting weak passwords.
It is important for system administrators to be aware of the risks posed by privilege escalation. This involves taking safety measures, such as reducing user privileges, implementing secure password policies, and regularly patching the system with security updates.
