Domain overview
Escalation decides whether a low-privilege foothold stays marginal or becomes operationally meaningful. The useful work is in proving why the path exists, what it grants and how it should be fixed.
Related certification context
Privilege escalation is not its own certification lane here, but these OffSec tracks strongly support the host-level work in this domain.
- OffSec OSCP+ / PEN-200Foundational Linux and Windows escalation logic inside real attack chains.
- OffSec OSEP / PEN-300Deeper operator context for mature privilege paths, evasion and multi-stage internal work.
Selected public references
- GTFOBinsgtfobins.org/
- LOLBASlolbas-project.github.io/
- book.hacktricks.wiki · Linux Privilege Escalation Checklist.htmlbook.hacktricks.wiki/en/linux-hardening/linux-privilege-escalation-checklist.html
- book.hacktricks.wiki · Checklist Windows Privilege Escalation.htmlbook.hacktricks.wiki/en/windows-hardening/checklist-windows-privilege-escalation.html
- GitHub · carlospolop / PEASS-nggithub.com/carlospolop/PEASS-ng
Topic index
Introduction
Escalation work turns local misconfiguration into decisive impact. The focus is on permissions, services, scheduled execution, weak defaults, credential material and operating-system behaviours that let a limited foothold become strong control.
The Goal Of Privilege Escalation
Escalation work turns local misconfiguration into decisive impact. The focus is on permissions, services, scheduled execution, weak defaults, credential material and operating-system behaviours that let a limited foothold become strong control.
Linux Privilege Escalation
Escalation work turns local misconfiguration into decisive impact. The focus is on permissions, services, scheduled execution, weak defaults, credential material and operating-system behaviours that let a limited foothold become strong control.
Windows Privilege Escalation
Escalation work turns local misconfiguration into decisive impact. The focus is on permissions, services, scheduled execution, weak defaults, credential material and operating-system behaviours that let a limited foothold become strong control.
macOS Privilege Escalation
Escalation work turns local misconfiguration into decisive impact. The focus is on permissions, services, scheduled execution, weak defaults, credential material and operating-system behaviours that let a limited foothold become strong control.