Local exploit

A local exploit is a vulnerability in a Linux system that allows an ordinary user to gain root privileges by performing a certain sequence of actions. Generally these exploits occur when a privileged application contains a bug which does not perform sufficient checks on the user before executing a command with root access.

Local exploits do not by themselves allow intruders into the system, since an ordinary user account is needed first. However it is often possible to gain this user access to a system if a password policy is not enforced.