Labels

πŸ€– RamiGPT: AI‑Driven Autonomous Privilege Escalation (Deep Dive — 2025)


Author: CyberHawk 
Published: August 2025

πŸš€ What Is RamiGPT?

RamiGPT is an AI-powered offensive agent by M507 that autonomously finds and exploits privilege escalation vulnerabilities using OpenAI reasoning and tools like LinPEAS, BeRoot, and PwnTools. It has consistently rooted vulnerable systems in under 15 seconds in real-world VulnHub CTF challenges (Security Aid).

⏳ Real Machine Performance Metrics

VulnHub Target Time to Root
Escalate Linux 1 ~12.83 seconds
Venom: 1 ~9.67 seconds
DC: 2 ~9.66 seconds
digitalworld.local → TORMENT ~9.73 seconds
hacksudo: L.P.E. ~9.85 seconds
serial: 1 ~9.62 seconds
(Text data taken from timing table in the repo) (GitHub, Security Aid)

🧠 Architecture & Workflow Overview

  1. User Input → Target connection via SSH or IP input.

  2. Enumeration → Executes shell enumeration (LinPEAS for Linux, BeRoot for Windows).

  3. AI Reasoning → Sends findings to OpenAI, receives recommended exploit paths.

  4. Automation → Uses PwnTools scripts to carry out escalation steps.

  5. Detection → Observes shell output or UID prompt to confirm root success via root_detection.py.

  6. Logging → Records elapsed times for each task via setup_logger.py (GitHub, security-science.com).

πŸ›  Installing & Running RamiGPT

πŸ”‘ 1. OpenAI API Key & Environment Setup

git clone https://github.com/M507/RamiGPT.git
cd RamiGPT
cp .env.example .env
# Open .env and insert your OpenAI API key into OPENAI_API_KEY=

🐳 2. Environment Execution Methods

Option A: Run via Docker

docker compose up -d
# Access at https://127.0.0.1:5000

Option B: Run Locally with Python

chmod +x generate_certs.sh
./generate_certs.sh
pip install -r requirements.txt
python3 app.py

Visit https://localhost:5000 in your browser (GitHub).

⛏️ How RamiGPT Works Under the Hood

πŸ” Enumeration Modules

  • LinPEAS: Finds SUID binaries, weak permissions, sudo configs, cron jobs.

  • BeRoot: Windows enumeration for misconfigurations like AlwaysInstallElevated or unquoted service paths (Undercode Testing).

🧠 OpenAI-Guided Reasoning

The agent transforms enumeration output into structured prompt text, submits to OpenAI, interprets the AI-generated strategy, and validates proposed paths programmatically.

πŸ’₯ Exploitation via PwnTools

Once a path is confirmed valid, exploits run automatically (sudo abuse, cron payload execution, credential extraction). The logic flow continues until root is achieved—or no valid escalation found.

πŸ‘️ Detailed Example Flow

  1. Connect to VM (e.g., Escalate Linux 1).

  2. RamiGPT runs LinPEAS, returns findings like "rudimentary user's sudo on /usr/bin/find" or "weak password in .bash_history".

  3. LLM suggests echo 'exploit.sh' | sudo tee /dev/sh or similar.

  4. PwnTools executes shell logic to escalate.

  5. Root is detected and reported in post-run logs and interface.

πŸ”’ Ethical & Security Considerations

  • Authorized Use Only: Intended for authorized testing (e.g., lab, pen test engagements). Repository includes explicit legal disclaimer (security-science.com, GitHub).

  • Avoid misuse: Unauthorized usage may violate laws like the CFAA.

  • Monitoring Recommendations:

    • Audit commands (linpeas, sudo -l, binary operations)

    • Monitor behavioral anomalies

    • Implement time-based privilege escalation (PAM policies)

Modern PAM and threat platforms monitor suspicious automation patterns and log credential access attempts for AI-style tooling (░ ' ░).

🧰 When to Use RamiGPT

Ideal for:

  • Red team training labs

  • CTF practice sessions (VulnHub environments)

  • Demonstrating AI-assisted escalation in presentations or threat models

Avoid misuse in production or uncontrolled environments.

πŸ”„ Human vs AI Escalation

Traditional manual escalation requires step-by-step commands:

sudo -l
find / -perm -u=s -type f
grep -R "password" -i /home

RamiGPT compresses this entire logic flow into an autonomous reasoning loop—accelerating escalation from judgment to execution in seconds (Cyber Security News, security-science.com).

πŸ›‘ Defensive Measures Against AI Escalation Tools

Defensive Strategy Network/EDR Control
Alert on automated enumeration Monitor unusual LinPEAS/BeRoot use
Limit sudo abuse Enforce granular sudo policies
PAM time-bound access Prevent automated repeated escalation
AI anomaly detection Identify repeated AI-sourced commands
Event logging Capture shells, PwnTools calls

✅ In Summary

RamiGPT is a milestone in AI-augmented red teaming—it merges automated enumeration, LLM reasoning, and scripted exploitation into a powerful root escalation agent. It mimics expert attacker behavior at superhuman speed, highlighting both AI’s utility and its potential danger in attackers’ hands.

By exploring tools like RamiGPT in controlled, ethically authorized environments, red teams and defenders alike can prepare for AI-driven offensive techniques becoming mainstream.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment