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What Privilege Escalation Is
What Privilege Escalation Is Privilege escalation means getting more rights than you were given, usually normal user → root (full control). Get in as a limited user (web shell or cracked login), then escalate to root. Root can read every file, install anything and hide tracks. With least privilege ,
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What it is
Privilege escalation means getting more rights than you were given, usually normal user → root (full control).
Attacker’s flow
Get in as a limited user (web shell or cracked login), then escalate to root.
Root can read every file, install anything and hide tracks.
Why it matters for security
With least privilege, even a foothold stays limited.
That is the main defence.
| Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical | A low user becomes a higher one | A normal user becomes root/admin |
| Horizontal | Same level, but another user's access | One customer reads another customer's data |
Learn more in the lesson: 26.1 What Privilege Escalation Is