Breaking Out of the Sandbox

Alias Robotics -

Endpoint Privilege Escalation Testing

CLIENT PROFILE

Government Agency IT Security

15,000+ managed endpoints | Standardized builds | Strict access controls

THE CHALLENGE

The Insider Threat Question

Endpoints were locked down with standard builds, restricted user privileges, and endpoint protection. But the critical question remained unanswered: if an attacker gains access to a user's workstation—through phishing or physical access—how far can they go?

  • Unknown effectiveness of privilege restrictions
  • No testing of local security controls under real attack
  • Inability to validate endpoint hardening measures
  • Persistence and lateral movement risks from workstations

THE SOLUTION

Real-World Privilege Escalation Testing

CAI executed from standard user accounts on managed workstations, simulating an attacker's perspective. The platform tested for privilege escalation through known exploits, configuration weaknesses, and permission errors, then attempted to establish persistence and move laterally.

  • Executed from non-privileged user context
  • Automated discovery of privilege escalation vectors
  • Configuration weakness and vulnerable software detection
  • Persistence mechanism and lateral movement testing

THE RESULTS

Endpoints Hardened

IMPACT

The endpoint team implemented targeted hardening based on real attack paths.

Software update policies were revised, permission structures were overhauled, and monitoring was enhanced at escalation points. The organization moved from hoping endpoints were secure to proving it.

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