AWS IAM Privilege Escalation: Every Technique That Works

AWS IAM Privilege Escalation: Every Technique That Works

AWS IAM is both the most powerful and most abused system in cloud security. Get the permissions wrong — even slightly — and an attacker can go from a low-privilege read-only role to full AdministratorAccess in under five minutes. This guide covers every IAM privilege escalation technique that works in 2026. Real attack paths, real commands, detection notes where relevant. If you’re doing cloud pentesting, red team engagements, or studying for AWS security certs — this is the complete reference. ...

June 2, 2026 · 10 min · Red Team Guide
Windows Privilege Escalation Cheat Sheet 2026

Windows Privilege Escalation Cheat Sheet 2026: Every Technique That Works

Windows privilege escalation is one of the most critical skills in offensive security. You land on a box as a low-privileged user, and your job isn’t done until you have SYSTEM. This cheat sheet covers every technique that actually works in 2026 — with real commands, the right tools, and notes on which Windows versions each technique applies to. Bookmark it. You’ll use it. Why Windows PrivEsc Is Different From Linux Linux privilege escalation has patterns: SUID binaries, sudo misconfigs, writable cron jobs, kernel exploits. Clean and predictable. ...

May 19, 2026 · 9 min · Red Team Guide
Linux Privilege Escalation Cheat Sheet 2026

Linux Privilege Escalation Cheat Sheet 2026: Every Technique That Works

Linux privilege escalation is the step between getting a shell and owning the box. You land as www-data or a low-priv user — the goal is root. This cheat sheet covers every technique worth knowing in 2026, with commands you can run immediately. Practice these techniques on a real machine. Vultr and DigitalOcean both offer $5–6/month VPS you can spin up, break, and destroy. Cheap, legal, and resets whenever you want. ...

May 15, 2026 · 8 min · Red Team Guide
Linux kernel Copy Fail CVE-2026-31431 privilege escalation exploit

Linux Kernel "Copy Fail" Zero-Day (CVE-2026-31431): Root on Every Major Distro Since 2017

⚠️ Active Threat — Publicly Disclosed April 29, 2026. Working exploit code is public. Every unpatched Linux system running kernel 4.14 through 6.17 is affected. Check your kernel version now. See mitigation steps below. What Is “Copy Fail”? CVE-2026-31431, dubbed “Copy Fail” by the researchers who found it, is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Linux kernel’s cryptographic subsystem. CVSS score: 7.8. The practical impact: any local user — no special permissions required — can get a root shell on an unpatched system. Reliable, deterministic, no kernel offsets needed, no brute force, no KASLR bypass. ...

April 30, 2026 · 8 min · Red Team Guide