Promoting a Secure and Resilient Internet: Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

Abstract: The Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism (AECM) is a critical cybersecurity concern, as it allows attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized elevated privileges. This research explores attackers' primary methods to exploit compromised credentials, including account takeover, credential stuffing, and malware installation. It also highlights key techniques such as bypassing User Account Control (UAC) and exploiting setuid/setgid on Unix-like systems. The article discusses mitigation strategies, including audit and monitoring, privileged account management, and execution prevention. Finally, it provides insights into the future of AECM, emphasizing the increasing sophistication of attacks, emerging attack vectors, and stronger defensive mechanisms. This work aims to inform cybersecurity professionals about the risks of AECM and provide actionable strategies to mitigate these threats.