Question

What is the primary goal of a Privilege Escalation attack?

• A. To disclose sensitive information.
• B. To crash the e-governance server.
• C. To gain basic access to a system.
• D. To obtain higher-level access to perform restricted actions.

Answer 1

Answer:

D. To obtain higher-level access to perform restricted actions.

• Elevating Permissions: An attacker who has gained basic access to a system will try to "escalate" their privileges. This means they are trying to gain the same level of control as an administrator or a "root" user.

• Performing Restricted Actions: With higher-level access, the attacker can perform actions they couldn't before. This includes deleting or modifying files, installing malware, or accessing sensitive data like financial records or personal information.

• Bypassing Security: Privilege escalation is a key step in a multi-stage cyberattack. It allows the attacker to bypass the system's security controls and move freely within the network to cause maximum damage.