{
  "family": "tear",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "trojan",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nTear is a highly dangerous Remote Access Trojan (RAT) and Backdoor. Its primary objective is to silently infiltrate a Windows workstation or server, establish an encrypted command-and-control (C2) channel, and grant a remote attacker full, interactive, administrative control over the compromised endpoint, effectively bypassing all local security controls.\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities</h3>\nTear is typically deployed via highly targeted spear-phishing campaigns (often utilizing malicious macros in Office documents), drive-by downloads from compromised websites, or installed directly by an attacker who has gained initial access via compromised RDP credentials.\n\nOnce executed, Tear provides a comprehensive suite of espionage and control features:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Interactive Shell Access:</strong> The RAT provides the attacker with a hidden, interactive command-line interface (reverse shell). The attacker can execute arbitrary system commands, manipulate the registry, and manage running processes as if they were sitting at the keyboard.</li>\n<li><strong>Surveillance and Espionage:</strong> Tear typically includes modules for live audio/video capture (hijacking the webcam and microphone), capturing desktop screenshots, and a built-in keylogger to steal passwords and monitor user activity in real-time.</li>\n<li><strong>Lateral Movement Platform:</strong> A compromised machine running a RAT acts as a perfect beachhead for lateral movement. The attacker can utilize Tear's file management capabilities to upload port scanners, credential dumping tools (like Mimikatz), and additional exploits to attack other servers within the corporate network.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nA Tear infection is a critical \"glass break\" security incident. The presence of a functional RAT indicates that an attacker has complete sovereignty over the endpoint. Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability of the data on that machine (and potentially the entire network) are entirely compromised.\n\n<h3>Incident Response and Remediation</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Immediate Network Isolation:</strong> Severing the C2 connection is the absolute highest priority. Disconnect the infected machine from the network immediately to cut off the attacker's interactive access.</li>\n<li><strong>Hunt for Lateral Movement:</strong> Assume the attacker has already used the RAT to pivot. Incident responders must analyze network traffic logs (NetFlow, firewall logs) originating from the infected IP address to identify other potentially compromised internal hosts.</li>\n<li><strong>Bare-Metal Re-imaging:</strong> Due to the extensive, interactive control a RAT provides, it is impossible to guarantee that a system has been \"cleaned\" manually. The attacker likely installed secondary backdoors. The only secure remediation is a complete bare-metal wipe and re-image from a trusted backup.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Backdoor.Tear",
    "RAT.Tear",
    "Win32/Tear"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1059",
    "T1105",
    "T1056.001",
    "T1125"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01T17:40:52Z",
  "type": "Remote Access Trojan (RAT) / Backdoor",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}