Associated with a process; defines security context.
Launching a new cmd.exe or powershell.exe process using the impersonated token to gain high-level access. Detection and Mitigation token.exe
Disclaimer: This write-up is for educational and defensive security purposes only. Associated with a process; defines security context
The primary purpose of token manipulation tools is privilege escalation. By duplicating a token from a higher-privilege process (like a SYSTEM service), an attacker can escalate privileges. Primary vs. Impersonation: The primary purpose of token manipulation tools is
Using functions like SetThreadToken to make the current thread operate with the privileges of the stolen token.
Tools often use DuplicateTokenEx to take a process token and convert it into a thread impersonation token. Key Components of Windows Tokens
A token contains crucial security data that token.exe tools interact with: The Security Identifier of the user. Group SIDs: Group memberships.