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* **Share your hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks) **and** [**hacktricks-cloud repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks-cloud).
</details>
## Introduction
If you found that you can **write in a System Path folder** (note that this won't work if you can write in a User Path folder) it's possible that you could **escalate privileges** in the system.
In order to do that you can abuse a **Dll Hijacking** where you are going to **hijack a library being loaded** by a service or process with **more privileges** than yours, and because that service is loading a Dll that probably doesn't even exist in the entire system, it's going to try to load it from the System Path where you can write.
For more info about **what is Dll Hijackig** check:
The first thing you need is to **identify a process** running with **more privileges** than you that is trying to **load a Dll from the System Path** you can write in.
The problem in this cases is that probably thoses processes are already running. To find which Dlls are lacking the services you need to launch procmon as soon as possible (before processes are loaded). So, to find lacking .dlls do:
* **Create** the folder `C:\privesc_hijacking` and add the path `C:\privesc_hijacking` to **System Path env variable**. You can do this **manually** or with **PS**:
```powershell
# Set the folder path to create and check events for
$folderPath = "C:\privesc_hijacking"
# Create the folder if it does not exist
if (!(Test-Path $folderPath -PathType Container)) {
* Launch **`procmon`** and go to **`Options`** --> **`Enable boot logging`** and press **`OK`** in the prompt.
* Then, **reboot**. When the computer is restarted **`procmon`** will start **recording** events asap.
* Once **Windows** is **started execute `procmon`** again, it'll tell you that it has been running and will **ask you if you want to store** the events in a file. Say **yes** and **store the events in a file**.
* **After** the **file** is **generated**, **close** the opened **`procmon`** window and **open the events file**.
* Add these **filters** and you will find all the Dlls that some **proccess tried to load** from the writable System Path folder:
After finding this, I found this interesting blog post that also explains how to [**abuse WptsExtensions.dll for privesc**](https://juggernaut-sec.com/dll-hijacking/#Windows\_10\_Phantom\_DLL\_Hijacking\_-\_WptsExtensionsdll). Which is what we **are going to do now**.
### Exploitation
So, to **escalate privileges** we are going to hijack the library **WptsExtensions.dll**. Having the **path** and the **name** we just need to **generate the malicious dll**.
You can [**try to use any of these examples**](../dll-hijacking.md#creating-and-compiling-dlls). You could run payloads such as: get a rev shell, add a user, execute a beacon...
Note that **not all the service are run** with **`NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM`** some are also run with **`NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE`** which has **less privileges** and you **won't be able to create a new user** abuse its permissions.\
However, that user has the **`seImpersonate`** privilege, so you can use the[ **potato suite to escalate privileges**](../roguepotato-and-printspoofer.md). So, in this case a rev shell is a better option that trying to create a user.
{% endhint %}
At the moment of writing the **Task Scheduler** service is run with **Nt AUTHORITY\SYSTEM**.
Having **generated the malicious Dll** (_in my case I used x64 rev shell and I got a shell back but defender killed it because it was from msfvenom_), save it in the writable System Path with the name **WptsExtensions.dll** and **restart** the computer (or restart the service or do whatever it takes to rerun the affected service/program).
When the service is re-started, the **dll should be loaded and executed** (you can **reuse** the **procmon** trick to check if the **library was loaded as expected**).
* Do you work in a **cybersecurity company**? Do you want to see your **company advertised in HackTricks**? or do you want to have access to the **latest version of the PEASS or download HackTricks in PDF**? Check the [**SUBSCRIPTION PLANS**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!
* Discover [**The PEASS Family**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family), our collection of exclusive [**NFTs**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family)
* Get the [**official PEASS & HackTricks swag**](https://peass.creator-spring.com)
* **Join the** [**💬**](https://emojipedia.org/speech-balloon/) [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** me on **Twitter** [**🐦**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks/tree/7af18b62b3bdc423e11444677a6a73d4043511e9/\[https:/emojipedia.org/bird/README.md)[**@carlospolopm**](https://twitter.com/carlospolopm)**.**
* **Share your hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks) **and** [**hacktricks-cloud repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks-cloud).
