Advanced Cybersecurity Topics

Advanced Cybersecurity Topics

This course is part of Introduction to Ethical Hacking Specialization

Instructor: Jason Crossland

Access provided by ExxonMobil

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

5 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

5 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Defend against rootkits, OS vulnerabilities, and buffer overflow attacks.
Identify and exploit race conditions while implementing mitigation strategies.
Apply post-exploitation techniques, including privilege escalation and pivoting.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

14 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Introduction to Ethical Hacking Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 6 modules in this course

This course is primarily aimed at cybersecurity professionals, advanced students, and individuals with foundational knowledge in cybersecurity looking to expand their expertise in ethical hacking and defense strategies. Advanced Cybersecurity Topics provides in-depth coverage of sophisticated security challenges, including rootkits, operating system security, buffer overflow vulnerabilities, race conditions, and post-exploitation techniques. It’s ideal for those who want to deepen their understanding of modern cybersecurity threats and defenses, and are ready to tackle complex scenarios involving system vulnerabilities, privilege escalation, and mitigation strategies. Through hands-on labs and real-world case studies, participants will gain practical experience using the MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Framework and other ethical hacking methodologies to analyze and defend against advanced attacks. Whether you are a seasoned professional aiming to advance your skills or a cybersecurity student looking to deepen your knowledge, this course equips you with critical tools to face complex security challenges.

The specialization “Introduction to Ethical Hacking” helps you to master essential cybersecurity skills across three comprehensive courses. Begin with Cybersecurity Fundamentals, covering motives, penetration testing, cryptography, information gathering, and social engineering. Progress to Advanced Techniques exploring mobile security, DNS attacks, network exploitation, and web exploitation. Conclude with Advanced Topics on rootkits, OS security, buffer overflow, race conditions, and post-exploitation strategies, preparing you for diverse cybersecurity challenges.

What's included

4 readings

Discusses the history, types, forms, and goals of rootkits. Covers system calls, kernel vs. user space, hooking, loadable kernel modules, testing system calls, and tweaking files.

What's included

7 videos5 readings3 assignments

7 videos Total 59 minutes

Rootkit 11 minutes
Kernel Space vs. User Space 8 minutes
System Calls 5 minutes
Tweaking the Kernel 9 minutes
LKMs 11 minutes
Hooking with LKMs 8 minutes
A Real Rootkit 7 minutes

5 readings Total 260 minutes

Reading References 40 minutes
Additional Readings 70 minutes
Reading References 40 minutes
Additional Readings 70 minutes
Self-Reflective Reading: User-level Rootkits 40 minutes

3 assignments Total 90 minutes

Understanding Rootkits and Kernel Space 15 minutes
Manipulating System Integrity with LKMs 15 minutes
Rootkits 60 minutes

Discusses the goals, purposes, techniques, and tools used for conducting OS security activities. Covers trusted computing, design, access control, SETUID, certification service, authenticate boot service, root shell, password shadow file, and single-user mode.

What's included

6 videos5 readings3 assignments

6 videos Total 86 minutes

OS Security 10 minutes
Trust and OS 10 minutes
OS Design 13 minutes
Access Control 17 minutes
OS Vulnerability 18 minutes
SETUID 18 minutes

5 readings Total 460 minutes

Reading References 90 minutes
Optional Readings 120 minutes
Reading References 90 minutes
Optional Readings 120 minutes
Self-Reflective Reading: OS Vulnerabilities 40 minutes

3 assignments Total 90 minutes

Fundamentals of OS Security 15 minutes
Advanced OS Security Techniques 15 minutes
OS Security 60 minutes

Discusses the goals, objectives, history, methods/approaches, and tools used to conduct buffer overflow activities. Covers “smashing the stack,” X86 Architecture, memory organization, stack behavior, Seg Fault example, modifying execution flow, shell code, and null characters.

What's included

10 videos5 readings3 assignments

10 videos Total 82 minutes

Introduction 14 minutes
X86 Architecture 10 minutes
Memory Organization 6 minutes
Stack Behavior 10 minutes
Seg Fault 3 minutes
Modifying Execution 11 minutes
Understanding Shell Code 8 minutes
Shell Code Addressing 10 minutes
Creating Shell Code 6 minutes
Null Character 5 minutes

5 readings Total 640 minutes

Reading References 120 minutes
Additional Readings 180 minutes
Reading References 120 minutes
Additional Readings 180 minutes
Self-Reflective Reading: A Journey through Security Protections 40 minutes

3 assignments Total 90 minutes

Foundations of Buffer Overflow 15 minutes
Exploiting Buffer Overflows 15 minutes
Buffer Overflow 60 minutes

Discusses the goals, objectives, history, methods/approaches, and tools used to conduct Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) & Race Condition activities.

What's included

1 video3 readings2 assignments1 plugin

1 video Total 11 minutes

Race Conditions Fundamentals 11 minutes

3 readings Total 250 minutes

Reading References 90 minutes
Additional Readings: Studies to Answer Self-Reflective Reading Questions 120 minutes
Self-Reflective Reading: Meltdown and Spectre 40 minutes

2 assignments Total 75 minutes

Advanced Techniques in Cyber Exploitation 15 minutes
Race Conditions 60 minutes

1 plugin Total 15 minutes

Race Condition Vulnerability 15 minutes

Discusses of the history, types, forms, goals, and tools used for privilege escalation activities. Covers preventing and examples of escalation, island hopping/pivoting, maintaining persistence/C2, data hiding, and maintaining your presence (i.e., log control).