What term describes an attacker who grants themselves the same access levels but assumes the identity of another user?

The term that best describes an attacker granting themselves the same access levels while assuming the identity of another user is horizontal privilege escalation. In this context, horizontal privilege escalation involves the attacker accessing functionality or data that does not belong to them by exploiting a vulnerability or weakness in the system, rather than increasing their access level to a higher or more privileged level (which would be vertical privilege escalation).

In horizontal privilege escalation, the attacker essentially operates as if they were the target user, gaining the same permissions and access as that user but without changing their account privileges. This scenario often occurs in systems where user roles are defined but can be manipulated or misused by someone who has managed to obtain the user’s credentials or exploit session management flaws.

Understanding this concept helps in recognizing how attackers can effectively manipulate user permissions, which is crucial for implementing effective security measures and access control in information technology management.