Which scenario describes vertical privilege escalation?

Vertical privilege escalation occurs when an attacker gains higher-level permissions than they originally possess, allowing them to access resources they should not have permission to use. This scenario typically involves moving from a standard user role to an administrative role, thereby enabling the attacker to perform actions that are typically restricted to higher privilege accounts.

For instance, if a user account with limited permissions is able to escalate its privileges to that of an administrator, that user can then access sensitive files, modify system settings, or manage user accounts, which are actions that the original account would not have been able to perform.

In contrast, scenarios involving accessing accounts with fewer permissions or changing group policies are not indicative of vertical privilege escalation because they do not involve gaining elevated access. Accessing shared folders without permission may imply unauthorized access, but it does not specifically involve the elevation of privilege, which is a key element of vertical privilege escalation.