What are the most common privilege escalation exploits and how can you prevent them?

1 Misconfigured permissions

One of the most common privilege escalation exploits is to take advantage of misconfigured permissions on files, directories, services, or registry keys. For example, an attacker may find a file that contains sensitive information or a script that executes commands with higher privileges, and exploit its weak permissions to read, write, or execute it. To prevent this, you should always follow the principle of least privilege and assign the minimum permissions required for each user and process. You should also regularly audit your permissions and remove any unnecessary or excessive ones.

2 Unpatched vulnerabilities

Another common privilege escalation exploit is to exploit a known vulnerability in the operating system or an application that allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code, bypass security checks, or escalate their privileges. For example, an attacker may exploit a buffer overflow, a race condition, a symlink attack, or a DLL hijacking to gain access to a higher-privileged process or service. To prevent this, you should always keep your operating system and applications updated with the latest security patches and fixes. You should also monitor your system for any signs of compromise or suspicious activity.

3 Weak passwords

A third common privilege escalation exploit is to guess or crack a weak password of a higher-privileged user or process. For example, an attacker may use a brute-force, a dictionary, or a rainbow table attack to find the password of an administrator, a service account, or a privileged application. To prevent this, you should always use strong and unique passwords for each user and process. You should also enforce password policies that require complexity, length, and expiration. You should also avoid storing passwords in plain text or in insecure locations.

4 Insecure services

A fourth common privilege escalation exploit is to abuse an insecure service that runs with higher privileges or allows remote access. For example, an attacker may use a service that has a vulnerable feature, a default or weak credential, or a misconfigured setting to gain control over it or execute commands with its privileges. To prevent this, you should always disable or remove any unnecessary or unused services. You should also configure your services to run with the lowest possible privileges and to use secure authentication and encryption.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?