What is privilege escalation in the context of IT systems?

Privilege escalation refers to the process through which a user with limited access rights gains higher-level permissions within an IT system. This can occur in various ways, such as utilizing software vulnerabilities or system misconfigurations to elevate privileges. When a user successfully escalates their privileges, they can access sensitive resources, execute restricted commands, or manipulate critical system settings, often with malicious intent.

In contrast, the other choices refer to different concepts. Restricting unauthorized access to systems pertains to security measures to protect resources rather than the act of gaining higher privileges. Software patches are about fixing vulnerabilities to prevent exploitation and maintain system integrity, while enhancing system performance deals with optimizing the efficiency of systems rather than modifying access rights. Understanding privilege escalation is crucial as it highlights the potential risks to security and the importance of maintaining robust access control measures in IT environments.