root@thehacksparrow:~/writeups$ SYSTEM ONLINE
root@sparrow:~/writeups$ cat gtfobins.md
// tools

GTFOBins

21 Jul 2026 · 2 min read

What it is — GTFOBins is a curated list of legitimate Unix/Linux binaries that can be abused to bypass local security restrictions: privilege escalation, escaping a restricted shell, reading/writing files, or maintaining persistence — as long as you have sudo, SUID, or some capability over that binary.

TypeWeb / static catalogue
CostFree
URLgtfobins.github.io

How to use it

Every binary has its own page with examples grouped by category (Shell, SUID, Sudo, File read, File write, etc.). The usual flow starts on the target machine:

sudo -l
find / -perm -4000 -type f 2>/dev/null   # SUID binaries

With the binary's name in hand, you look it up directly on GTFOBins, e.g. gtfobins.github.io/gtfobins/tar/, and copy the example from whichever category applies to your case (Sudo, SUID...).

It's practically the first place I go as soon as sudo -l reveals an allowed binary — I've literally used it in several of my own writeups (e.g. sudo tar --checkpoint-action=exec in TartarSauce).

What I use it for

  • Linux privilege escalation, always: any time sudo -l or a SUID binary shows up during enumeration, GTFOBins is the first lookup.
  • Learning the "why", not just the command: every entry briefly explains the mechanism (why that specific flag yields a shell), not just copy-paste.
  • Its Windows sibling is LOLBAS — I use them together depending on the target's operating system.

Link

gtfobins.github.io →