What is the term for exploiting vulnerabilities to gain higher access rights within a system?

The term for exploiting vulnerabilities to gain higher access rights within a system is privilege escalation. This occurs when an attacker takes advantage of a flaw or oversight in the software or configuration of a system to elevate their permissions beyond what is intended. By successfully leveraging these vulnerabilities, the attacker can gain access to restricted areas of the system, allowing them to execute unauthorized actions or access sensitive data.

Privilege escalation can occur in two forms: vertical and horizontal. Vertical escalation involves a user gaining higher-level privileges than they are authorized for, such as a regular user becoming an administrator. Horizontal escalation refers to gaining access to accounts or data of other users at the same privilege level, which can also lead to unauthorized actions.

Understanding privilege escalation is crucial for safeguarding systems against insider threats and external attacks, as it highlights the importance of securing vulnerabilities and implementing proper access controls.