Definition
Plain language
Going from limited access on a computer to full control over it.
As stated in the literature
Exploiting a flaw or misconfiguration to gain higher permissions than granted, e.g. a normal user reaching root or SYSTEM; the high-value payoff of the memory-safety attacks and agent-meltdown cascades in this corpus.
Also called: privilege-escalation, escalate privileges, privilege escalations
Why it matters: It turns a small foothold into total control, which is why it's the prize attackers chase after breaking in.
For example, an attacker who can only run a limited account on a server might exploit a flaw to gain full administrator control over the whole machine.
Heard on the show
“And the privilege escalation breakdown is worth lingering on.”Episode 024 — An AI Agent That Found 28 Zero-Days in Windows — And What Made It Work