Linux Privilege Escalation Project Summary

What is privilege escalation? 

Privilege escalation on a Linux machine involves exploiting vulnerabilities to gain higher access levels, such as root privileges. This is dangerous because it allows hackers to gain complete control over the system. Users should have proper security measures in place to prevent such exploits.

In this project, I demonstrated Linux privilege escalation by using LinEnum to gain root access and exploit hidden files. Here’s a step-by-step summary:

Step 1: Setting Up the Environment

I set up a target Linux machine and ensured I had SSH access. This allowed me to interact with the machine remotely.

Step 2: Running LinEnum

I downloaded and ran LinEnum, a script that helps in enumerating information and potential vulnerabilities in Linux systems. The command used was:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rebootuser/LinEnum/master/LinEnum.sh
chmod +x LinEnum.sh
./LinEnum.sh

Step 3: Analyzing the Output

LinEnum provided a detailed report on system configurations, potential vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations. I focused on areas with high privilege escalation potential.

Step 4: Identifying Hidden Files

During the analysis, I found hidden files and directories that were not secured properly. These files contained sensitive information that could be leveraged for escalation.

Step 5: Exploiting Vulnerabilities

I used the information from LinEnum to exploit identified vulnerabilities. For instance, I found a misconfigured sudoers file that allowed me to execute commands as the root user without a password:

sudo -i

Step 6: Gaining Root Access

By exploiting the sudoers file, I successfully escalated my privileges to root, gaining full control over the system.

Step 7: Documenting Findings

I documented all findings and steps taken during the project. This included the initial setup, execution of LinEnum, analysis of its output, exploitation of vulnerabilities, and the final privilege escalation.

Conclusion

This project highlighted the importance of regular system audits and proper configuration management to prevent privilege escalation. Using tools like LinEnum can significantly aid in identifying potential security weaknesses.