Attack and Defend: Linux Privilege Escalation Techniques In Depth
Recent kernel exploits such as Dirty COW show that despite continuous improvements in Linux security, privilege escalation vectors are still in widespread use and remain a problem for the Linux community. Linux system administrators are generally cognizant of the importance of hardening their Linux systems against privilege escalation attacks; however, they often lack the knowledge, skill, and resources to effectively safeguard their systems against such threats. This paper will examine Linux privilege escalation techniques used throughout 2016 in detail, highlighting how these techniques work and how adversaries are using them. Additionally, this paper will offer remediation procedures in order to inform system administrators on methods to mitigate the impact of Linux privilege escalation attacks.
