ATT&CK technique · T1548
Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism
Privilege Escalation· seen in 4 CISA KEV exploits
Full description, procedures and detections on attack.mitre.org
Who uses it
ATT&CK groups and malware with this technique. Highlighted: in SecurityTabs news this month.
Weaknesses that lead here
Classes of exploited vulnerability that CTID maps to this technique.
- CWE-2871 KEV CVEImproper AuthenticationThe system doesn't properly prove who a user is, so attackers get in as someone else.
- CWE-2881 KEV CVEAuthentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or ChannelA second route (a debug port, an API) reaches the protected function without the login check.
- CWE-2901 KEV CVEAuthentication Bypass by SpoofingThe system trusts something an attacker can fake, such as a source address or header.
- CWE-3061 KEV CVEMissing Authentication for Critical FunctionA sensitive function requires no login at all; one of the most exploited flaws in edge devices.
- CWE-771 KEV CVEImproper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')Input is pasted into a command without escaping, so attackers append commands of their own.
- CWE-781 KEV CVEImproper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')Input reaches an operating-system shell, letting an attacker run any command the service can.
Controls that mitigate it (22)
NIST SP 800-53 rev5, grouped by family (CTID mapping).
AC · Access Control
CA · Security Assessment and Authorization
CM · Configuration Management
IA · Identification and Authentication
RA · Risk Assessment
SC · System and Communications Protection
Weaknesses from each CVE's CVE Record (CWE, © MITRE). Techniques: MITRE ATT&CK®. Technique ↔ control and CVE ↔ technique links: Center for Threat-Informed Defense Mappings Explorer (NIST SP 800-53 rev5; CISA KEV). Plain-language explainers are SecurityTabs editorial.