Privilege Escalation in Linux: Practical Commands and Techniques

A Comprehensive Guide to Identifying and Exploiting Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities

Privilege escalation is a crucial concept in cybersecurity and penetration testing, where a user gains unauthorized access to higher privileges within a system. In Linux, privilege escalation involves exploiting misconfigurations, software vulnerabilities, or weak policies to elevate access from a normal user to an administrator or root user.

This guide covers practical commands, techniques, and tools to identify and exploit privilege escalation vulnerabilities in Linux. It also highlights security measures to prevent such attacks.

1. What is Privilege Escalation?

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker elevates their access rights beyond what was intended by the system’s design.

Types of Privilege Escalation:

1. Vertical Privilege Escalation: Moving from a lower privilege level (e.g., regular user) to a higher privilege level (e.g., root).
2. Horizontal Privilege Escalation: Gaining access to the privileges of another user at the same level.

2. Practical Commands for…