This blog covers five strategies that work to prevent privilege escalation and protect your organization’s critical assets. You’ll learn about ways to improve your security – from better authentication protocols to securing Active Directory. We’ll show you useful steps to lift your security stance against these ongoing threats using advanced monitoring tools like Fidelis Elevate® XDR platform.
Understanding Privilege Escalation Attacks
Cybercriminals use privilege escalation attacks to steadily increase their access within your systems. This critical phase in the cyber attack chain lets threat actors move from their first entry point to deeper network access where they can wreak havoc.
What is privilege escalation?
A privilege escalation happens when attackers get higher-level access or permissions than they had during their first system breach. This security exploit gives cybercriminals more control over your network. They can access sensitive data and perform unauthorized actions they couldn’t do before.
The privilege escalation process usually happens in three main stages:
Infiltration: Attackers break in through weak spots like phishing emails, weak credentials, or software vulnerabilities Exploitation: They find system vulnerabilities to bypass security and increase access once inside Exfiltration: With their new privileges, they can change settings, steal data, or set up long-term access
Successful privilege escalation attacks do more than just steal data. Your organization faces unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromised identities, system manipulation, disrupted operations, data tampering, regulatory fines, and reputation damage. Attackers who get admin access can even erase their tracks by deleting logs, making it very hard to trace them.
Horizontal vs. vertical privilege escalation
AspectVertical Privilege EscalationHorizontal Privilege Escalation
DefinitionAttacker gains higher-level access than originally permittedAttacker accesses other users’ data or actions at the same privilege levelAlso Known AsPrivilege ElevationLateral Privilege EscalationObjectiveEscalate from normal user to admin/superuserAccess peer accounts or data without increasing privilege levelHow It WorksExploits software vulnerabilities or misconfigurations to gain elevated permissionsUses stolen credentials, session hijacking, or weak access controlExampleA regular user exploits a bug to become a system administratorOne employee accesses another’s email or files using their credentialsRisk LevelHigh – attacker gains control over critical systems or security settingsMedium to High – can lead to data theft or enable vertical escalationTargeted WeaknessesInsecure system settings, unpatched software, improper role assignmentsBroken access controls, shared credentials, poor session managementSecurity ImpactCan disable security tools, steal sensitive data, install malware, or create backdoorsCan spread laterally within the network and potentially reach higher-privilege targets
Finding these attacks gets harder the longer they go on. Security pros point out that privilege escalation attacks can take weeks or months as attackers gather information, get credentials, and carefully increase their privileges. Many organizations can’t monitor their systems well enough to catch these attacks. Without watching user behaviors in real-time, strange activities like unusual login times or quick privilege changes go unnoticed.
These attacks often exploit misconfigurations rather than known vulnerabilities, which makes them harder to find through regular vulnerability scanning. Here are five strategies to spot and stop this attack.
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Strategy 1: Enforce Least Privilege Access
The principle of least privilege is the life-blood of security against privilege escalation attacks. This security concept limits user access rights to what they need to do their jobs. Rather than giving broad permissions that create security holes, least privilege creates a controlled environment that minimizes damage from compromised accounts.
How least privilege reduces attack surface
The principle of least privilege makes your attack surface smaller by restricting what users, applications, and systems can access on your network. Users or processes should work with minimal access needed to complete their tasks. An attacker’s ability to move sideways or boost privileges becomes substantially limited when an account gets compromised.
Enforcing least privilege is a foundational step when learning how to prevent privilege escalation in enterprise environments and it brings these practical benefits:
Prevention of malware propagation throughout your network Limiting an attacker’s ability to move laterally between systems Reduction in potential data exposure during a breach Protection of critical infrastructure from unauthorized changes Improved security for both cloud and on-premises environments
Fidelis Elevate® XDR helps implement least privilege by giving complete visibility across your environment. It helps find excessive permissions that might go unnoticed. The platform’s advanced analytics spot unusual behavior patterns that could show attempts to bypass least privilege controls.
Managing access with role-based controls
Role-based access control (RBAC) offers a well-laid-out way to implement least privilege across your organization. RBAC links permissions to predefined roles based on job functions and responsibilities instead of assigning them individually. Users get only the access they need to do their specific duties through this organized method.
RBAC’s strength comes from how it lines up with organizational structure. Security teams can quickly change access rights for groups of users at once by mapping permissions to roles rather than individuals.
Using PAM tools to monitor privileged accounts
Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions play a vital role in your least privilege strategy. These specialized tools watch, detect, and stop unauthorized privileged access to critical resources. Organizations can add extra protective layers that alleviate data breaches even when other security controls fail by using PAM.
Security teams can spot malicious activities from privilege abuse and act quickly with PAM implementation. PAM solutions help organizations remove default admin accounts and control privilege elevation by showing all privileged accounts and identities.
Fidelis Endpoint® works alongside PAM tools by watching endpoint activities for signs of privilege escalation like unusual process behaviors or unauthorized access attempts. Threats trying to bypass PAM controls can be detected and handled quickly with this capability.
Strategy 2: Strengthen Authentication and Password Policies
Strong authentication is a vital line of defense against privilege escalation attacks that protects your network. Weak authentication often becomes the main entry point for attackers who want unauthorized access, even with strong access controls. Let’s get into how better authentication and password policies can reduce your risk of these threats.
Implementing strong password rules
Current best practices focus on password length instead of complexity. Yes, it is true that longer passphrases are more secure and easier to remember than short, complex passwords. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends a minimum password length of 8 characters, though 15 characters works best.
Modern guidelines encourage:
Eliminating arbitrary complexity requirements Avoiding mandatory periodic password changes Checking passwords against known compromised lists Allowing longer maximum password lengths (at least 64 characters) Permitting password managers to aid strong, unique credentials
Fidelis Endpoint® works among these password strategies by monitoring suspicious authentication activities that might show password compromise. It identifies unusual login patterns or authentication attempts that could signal an attacker trying to utilize stolen credentials.
Why MFA is essential for privileged accounts
Microsoft’s data shows that MFA can stop 99.9% of account compromise attacks. This protection becomes critical for privileged accounts that access sensitive systems and data. MFA is essential for blocking privilege escalation by stopping unauthorized access to admin-level accounts.
MFA combines:
Something you know (password) Something you have (security token or mobile device) Something you are (biometric verification)
Privileged accounts need the strongest forms of MFA rather than weaker methods like SMS-based verification. Hardware tokens, push notifications to authenticated apps, or biometric verification give better protection against sophisticated attacks.
Fidelis Active Directory Intercept™ improves this protection by watching privileged account activities in Active Directory—attackers’ primary target for privilege escalation. It spots unusual authentication patterns or suspicious access attempts to privileged accounts before attackers can move laterally.
Strong password policies, multi-factor authentication, and removing default and shared credentials create layers of protection against privilege escalation. Better authentication basics will give you a strong security foundation that makes it harder for attackers to gain the foothold they need.
Lock down your AD environment with this practical, security-first checklist.
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Strategy 3: Keep Systems Patched and Configured Securely
Keeping systems updated and properly configured are the foundations of defense against privilege escalation attacks. Security researchers have found that most successful breaches exploit known vulnerabilities. Simple patches could have stopped these attacks. Patch management directly fixes the vulnerabilities that attackers use to gain unauthorized privileges in your networks.
The role of patch management in blocking privilege escalation
Security teams need to identify, prioritize, test, and deploy updates across their infrastructure. They must know exactly what hardware, drivers, and software exist on their networks to patch them properly. Teams should prioritize updates based on how severe the vulnerability is and how it might affect the business.
Testing patches in controlled environments helps find potential compatibility issues. This prevents disruptions while fixing critical security problems. After deployment, teams must verify that patches are installed correctly to close security gaps that attackers might exploit.
Disciplined patch management gives you these benefits:
Much smaller attack surface for privilege escalation attempts Stops attackers from moving through exploited vulnerabilities Guards against known and newly found security flaws Better compliance with regulatory requirements Better system performance and stability
Fidelis Endpoint® makes your patch management strategy stronger by giving advanced endpoint visibility and protection. It watches endpoints constantly for signs of vulnerability exploitation and spots potential privilege escalation attempts even without patches.
Fixing misconfigurations before attackers find them
Security misconfigurations give attackers another major way to escalate privileges. Wrong settings in network defenses, default passwords on key accounts, unsafe application defaults, and loose access settings are common problems. Small oversights in configuration can create big security risks.
Regular vulnerability scanning helps find these configuration issues early. Organizations can then fix vulnerabilities based on risk levels. These scans catch unauthorized changes, misconfigurations, unpatched systems, and other weaknesses that might stay hidden until exploited.
Cloud environments need extra attention because misconfigurations have become common attack targets. Public access to cloud storage buckets, too many permissions, and unsafe defaults on new applications create opportunities for privilege escalation. Regular security checks of cloud environments help catch these issues early.
Strategy 4: Secure Active Directory from the Ground Up
Active Directory’s role in managing identities makes it a common target for active directory privilege escalation attacks. Security professionals often say that attackers who breach AD gain “the keys to the kingdom.” This access lets them manipulate user accounts, raise permissions, and potentially compromise your entire digital world.
Several factors make Active Directory an easy target for privilege escalation attempts:
Centralized control point – AD works as a central hub for network resources including user accounts, servers, and access policies Credential storage – AD stores password hashes and authentication tickets that attackers can steal to access systems Permission management – AD’s information about user roles and group memberships becomes a roadmap for attackers who plan privilege escalation Persistence opportunities – Attackers who get inside can create backdoor access, add rogue accounts, or change security policies to keep their foothold
Protecting Active Directory needs strategic defense of its three most privileged built-in groups: Enterprise Admins, Domain Admins, and Administrators. These groups have the highest privileges by default and attract attackers who try to raise their access rights.
How Fidelis Active Directory Intercept™ protects AD
Fidelis Active Directory Intercept™ offers layered defense that detects, stops, and responds to AD attacks that regular security tools might miss. By detecting unusual logins and permission changes, Fidelis helps stop active directory privilege escalation before it compromises your core systems.
Fidelis Active Directory Intercept™ gives you:
Immediate monitoring and detection – The solution watches AD logs and events to spot suspicious activities and active attacks. Intelligent deception technology – The system maps your environment, assesses risks, and deploys deceptive AD elements. This lures attackers into revealing themselves before they can raise privileges. Network traffic analysis – Fidelis Network®‘s Deep Session Inspection finds threats targeting AD deep within nested and hidden files as they move through your network.
Organizations that combine this with Fidelis Elevate® XDR platform get a unified way to stop privilege escalation attacks. This connects AD security with detailed endpoint and network protection. The strategy helps identify and contain attempts to compromise AD before attackers can establish the foothold they need to raise privileges.
Strategy 5: Monitor for Unusual Behavior and Access Patterns
Monitoring serves as your last line of defense when figuring out how to detect privilege escalation attempts across your network. Strong preventive measures help, but watching for unusual behavior patterns remains vital. Security teams must spot attackers who slip past the original defenses.
Using behavior analytics to detect anomalies
Behavior analytics looks at patterns in data and flags activities outside normal operation. The technology creates baselines of typical user activities. It then spots unusual patterns that could point to privilege escalation attempts.
Security teams should watch for these warning signs:
Unexpected privilege changes and elevation Suspicious process execution with elevated privileges Authentication from unusual locations or devices Sudden changes to security configurations Unusual lateral movement between systems
Anomaly detection works because it spots unknown threats by finding behavior that doesn’t fit the norm. This approach gives security teams early warnings so they can act before attackers gain higher privileges.
How Fidelis Elevate® XDR helps identify privilege misuse
Fidelis Elevate® XDR gives detailed visibility into privilege escalation attempts through advanced analytics and machine learning. The platform confirms and relates network detection alerts to endpoints. This reduces false alarms and highlights the most important alerts.
The platform blends threat intelligence with automated response features. Security teams can quickly spot and stop privilege escalation attacks before major damage occurs. Fidelis Elevate® combines threat hunting, deception technologies, and advanced analytics to learn about threats in your environment.
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Conclusion
Combining foundational defenses with behavioral analytics creates a layered approach built on proven privilege escalation mitigation techniques. You can build multiple layers of defense against sophisticated attacks by enforcing least privilege access, deepening authentication protocols, keeping systems patched, securing Active Directory, and using immediate monitoring.
Fidelis Elevate® XDR is the life-blood of this defense strategy. It provides complete visibility and advanced analytics to detect subtle signs of privilege escalation attempts. This unified platform connects isolated events and reveals attack patterns that could stay hidden until major damage occurs.
Strong security basics and advanced detection capabilities are essential to protect against privilege escalation. Preventive measures combined with Fidelis solutions create a resilient security posture that cuts your risk exposure. Security is an experience, not a destination. Our platforms evolve to tackle new threats and attack techniques.
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