Malware

TDTESS

TDTESS is a Windows malware implant that establishes persistence by installing itself as a service when executed with administrative privileges. It has been observed creating a service masquerading as a legitimate component and then manipulating file creation timestamps to match those of a benign system binary, indicating deliberate defense-evasion and anti-forensics tradecraft. During installation, it creates and subsequently deletes log files, further reducing forensic visibility. TDTESS also provides reverse shell functionality on compromised hosts, enabling remote command execution and post-compromise operator access. The documented behavior supports classification as a backdoor-oriented implant focused on persistence, shell access, and stealth on Windows systems.

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MITRE ATT&CK

Techniques & procedures

6 distinct techniques documented for this family, organized by ATT&CK tactic.

Execution

1 technique

T1059.003Windows Command ShellEvidence3

Numerous entries state malware can create a remote shell or reverse shell, for example 4H RAT, BLACKCOFFEE, DarkComet, PlugX, QuasarRAT, and others. | The content repeatedly describes threat actors and malware using cmd.exe, the Windows command shell, to execute commands, launch payloads, run batch files, and automate actions on compromised hosts.

Persistence

1 technique

T1543.003Windows ServiceEvidence3

During the 2016 Ukraine Electric Power Attack, Sandworm Team used an arbitrary system service to load at system boot for persistence for Industroyer. They also replaced the ImagePath registry value of a Windows service with a new backdoor binary.

Privilege Escalation

1 technique

T1543.003Windows ServiceEvidence3

Stealth

2 techniques

T1070.004File DeletionEvidence8

The content repeatedly describes malware and threat actors deleting files, directories, droppers, logs, scripts, temporary files, exfiltrated archives, and uninstalling themselves to cover tracks or reduce forensic artifacts.

T1070.006TimestompEvidence2

APT28 has performed timestomping on victim files. APT29 has used timestomping to alter the Standard Information timestamps on their web shells to match other files in the same directory. APT32 has used scheduled task raw XML with a backdated timestamp... APT38 has modified data timestamps to mimic files that are in the same folder on a compromised host.

Command and Control

2 techniques

T1105Ingress Tool TransferEvidence2

The content repeatedly describes malware and threat actors that can "download files from C2," "download additional payloads," "upload and download files," "retrieve payloads from the C2 server," and "copy files to remote machines."

T1219Remote Access ToolsEvidence1

4H RAT has the capability to create a remote shell. AuditCred can open a reverse shell on the system to execute commands. PlugX allows actors to spawn a reverse shell on a victim. QuasarRAT can launch a remote shell to execute commands on the victim’s machine.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

6 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

6 SOURCESView more in app

mitre attack websiteNews

Sep 30, 2024

Indicator Removal: Timestomp, Sub-technique T1070.006 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®

Malware that copies creation times from legitimate svchost.exe to persistence-related service files.

mitre attack websiteNews

Oct 21, 2021

Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion, Sub-technique T1070.004 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®

Backdoor malware that creates and then deletes log files during service installation.

mitre attack websiteNews

Mar 8, 2018

Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service, Sub-technique T1543.003 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®

Malware that installs itself as a Windows service named bmwappushservice when running with admin privileges.

mitre attackNews

Jan 25, 2026

Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell, Sub-technique T1059.003 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®

Malware/tool that provides a reverse shell on victim systems.

+2 more in the timeline

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IOC matching

Match every observed IP, domain, and hash against your live telemetry.

Threat actor attribution

Named campaigns wielding this family, with evidence pinned to each claim.

Exploited vulnerabilities

CVEs this family uses for access and lateral movement.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

MITRE ATT&CK mapping6

Every documented technique, ranked by evidence weight.

Researcher chatter

Reddit, Mastodon, and CTI community discussion around this family.

TDTESS