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Privilege escalation sounds scary. Have you heard about the new vulnerabilities in Google’s Vertex AI platform?
A recent breach of these vulnerabilities involved LLMs (large language models). The attacker used privilege escalation to exploit a system running Google Vertex AI. This allowed them to mine and steal sensitive data that the AI had access to. Essentially, the attacker managed to get the system to reveal more information than it should, which could contain valuable intellectual property or private data.
These kinds of system vulnerabilities can allow an outside user to act like a trusted member of the network. They can also take an insider’s security access level and give them unauthorized intel on more-privileged information.
What Is Privilege Escalation?
Essentially, this attack exploits a system, application, or network to gain access to privileges or permissions that it is not supposed to have. It gives attackers more control and power within a system, allowing them to cause greater damage, steal sensitive data, or disable security measures.
There are two main types of privilege escalation:
Vertical or Privilege Elevation
The attacker moves from having limited permissions (like those of a standard user) to higher permissions (such as those of an administrator or root user).
Example: A hacker exploits a vulnerability in a web application to grant themselves admin-level access.
Horizontal Escalation:
The attacker stays at the same permission level but accesses resources or accounts they shouldn’t.
Example: A regular user accesses another user’s confidential data by exploiting a flaw in the system.
In 2023, privilege escalation accounted for 12.1% of vulnerabilities reported in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, making it the top vulnerability type that year. It’s a very real and serious threat to your accounts and personal data.
How Can You Protect Against This Vulnerability?
Many breaches involving privilege escalation led to the exfiltration of critical data, such as intellectual property or customer records. For instance, attackers increasingly target cloud platforms and APIs where privilege mismanagement is common.
Preventing privilege escalation is therefore crucial for maintaining the security of systems and data.
Least Privilege Principle: Ensure that users have only the permissions necessary to perform their job functions. Mind your own privilege level and refrain from entering restricted areas, whether physical or digital.
Regular Audits and Monitoring: Conduct regular checks of your permissions and access logs to ensure security and compliance. Monitoring can help detect unusual activities that may indicate attempts to escalate privileges.
Patch Management: If you can, update your software and systems automatically to download new security patches ASAP. Many privilege escalation vulnerabilities are exploited through unpatched, vulnerable software!
Strong Authentication Mechanisms: Toggle on multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible, to add an extra layer of security and make it harder for attackers to gain access.
User Training and Awareness: Use the resources and training available to you to learn about security best practices and the risks associated with privilege escalation. Awareness reduces your risk of a breach by up to 70%.
Application Security: Secure your applications against common vulnerabilities (like SQL injection) that could be exploited to gain elevated privileges. Only download vetted software from reputable app stores.
By implementing these strategies, you will significantly reduce the risk of privilege escalation in your home and professional networks. More than 75% of vulnerabilities are exploited within 19 days of discovery, which goes to show how quickly attackers can leverage privilege escalation flaws. Understanding and addressing privilege escalation risks is essential to preventing breaches.
Commonwealth Sentinel will help you face your organization’s growing cyber security threats. We can evaluate your existing IT security and work with your team to protect your data and assets. At Commonwealth Sentinel, we stay focused on cyber security so you can focus on other things. Contact us today or sign up for a free consultation.
At Commonwealth Sentinel, we are focused on cyber security so that you can focus on other things.