Which of the following actions would most likely enable an attacker to gain higher privileges?

Executing a privilege escalation attack is an action specifically designed for an attacker to gain higher privileges within a system or network. This type of attack typically exploits vulnerabilities or misconfigurations in software, which can allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to resources or elevate their level of access beyond what is normally permitted.

Privilege escalation attacks often target software flaws, such as bugs in the operating system or poorly configured permissions, that can be leveraged to gain administrator or root-level access. Once an attacker successfully performs such an attack, they can execute commands, install software, or manipulate system settings with elevated authority, posing a significant security risk.

The other options, while relevant to security practices, do not inherently enable an attacker to gain higher privileges. Regularly auditing user accounts, for instance, is a proactive security measure that helps ensure users have appropriate permissions and identifies potentially unauthorized accounts. Updating system software is essential for patching vulnerabilities and improving security, while utilizing antivirus software protects against malware and other threats but does not grant higher privileges to an attacker.