Which type of privilege escalation involves an attacker gaining higher access rights within the same system?

Vertical privilege escalation occurs when an attacker gains higher access rights or privileges within the same system, typically by exploiting a vulnerability or misconfiguration. This type of escalation enables the attacker to perform actions that would normally be restricted to users with elevated permissions, such as administrators or root users.

In this context, the attacker starts with lower-level access, such as that of a standard user, and manipulates the system to gain administrative rights, allowing them to execute privileged commands, access sensitive data, or modify system configurations.

Understanding this concept is crucial in IT management and security because recognizing the potential for vertical privilege escalation helps organizations implement appropriate security measures to mitigate such attacks, such as robust access controls, regular audits of user privileges, and timely application of security patches.