Learn which Metasploit module types contain privilege escalation capabilities. Detailed explanation of Auxiliary, Exploit, Post and Payload modules for GIAC GCIH exam preparation.
Table of Contents
Question
Which of the following Metasploit module types would contain privilege escalation capabilities?
A. Auxiliary
B. Exploit
C. Post
D. Payload
Answer
C. Post
Explanation
In Metasploit, the Post module type contains scripts and tools for post-exploitation activities, which are carried out after the initial exploit has been successful and a session has been opened on the target system. Privilege escalation is a key post-exploitation technique that allows an attacker to gain higher-level permissions and access on a compromised system.
Post modules in Metasploit are designed to automate various post-exploitation tasks, including privilege escalation. These modules can exploit known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or weaknesses in the target system to escalate the attacker’s privileges from a limited user to an administrator or root-level account.
The other module types serve different purposes:
- Auxiliary modules are used for scanning, enumeration, and information gathering tasks. They do not directly exploit vulnerabilities or provide privilege escalation capabilities.
- Exploit modules contain the actual code to exploit a vulnerability in a target system and deliver a payload. While they are used to gain initial access, they do not inherently contain privilege escalation functionality.
- Payload modules are the code that runs on the target system after a successful exploit. They provide functionalities like opening a shell, establishing a connection back to the attacker, or installing malware. Payload modules interact with the exploited vulnerability but do not necessarily perform privilege escalation on their own.
In summary, the Post module type in Metasploit is specifically designed for post-exploitation activities, including privilege escalation, making it the correct answer to the question.
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