Book Image

Windows and Linux Penetration Testing from Scratch - Second Edition

By : Phil Bramwell
Book Image

Windows and Linux Penetration Testing from Scratch - Second Edition

By: Phil Bramwell

Overview of this book

Let’s be honest—security testing can get repetitive. If you’re ready to break out of the routine and embrace the art of penetration testing, this book will help you to distinguish yourself to your clients. This pen testing book is your guide to learning advanced techniques to attack Windows and Linux environments from the indispensable platform, Kali Linux. You'll work through core network hacking concepts and advanced exploitation techniques that leverage both technical and human factors to maximize success. You’ll also explore how to leverage public resources to learn more about your target, discover potential targets, analyze them, and gain a foothold using a variety of exploitation techniques while dodging defenses like antivirus and firewalls. The book focuses on leveraging target resources, such as PowerShell, to execute powerful and difficult-to-detect attacks. Along the way, you’ll enjoy reading about how these methods work so that you walk away with the necessary knowledge to explain your findings to clients from all backgrounds. Wrapping up with post-exploitation strategies, you’ll be able to go deeper and keep your access. By the end of this book, you'll be well-versed in identifying vulnerabilities within your clients’ environments and providing the necessary insight for proper remediation.
Table of Contents (23 chapters)
1
Part 1: Recon and Exploitation
9
Part 2: Vulnerability Fundamentals
17
Part 3: Post-Exploitation

Chapter 16: Escalating Privileges

When we consider the penetration of any system – whether it’s a computer system or physical access to a building, for example – no one is the king of the castle when the initial compromise takes place. That’s what makes real-world attacks so insidious and hard to detect; the attackers work their way up from such an insignificant position that no one sees them coming. For example, take the physical infiltration of a secure building. After months of research, I’m finally able to swipe the janitor’s key and copy it without him knowing. Now, I can get into the janitor’s closet at the periphery of the building. Do I own the building? No. Do I have a foothold that will likely allow me a perspective that wasn’t possible before? Absolutely. Maybe pipes and wires are passing through the closet. Maybe the closet is adjacent to a secure room.

The principle of privilege escalation involves leveraging what...