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MITRE ATT&CK® Malware

S0435: PLEAD

PLEAD is a remote access tool (RAT) and downloader used by BlackTech in targeted attacks in East Asia including Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong.[1][2] PLEAD has also been referred to as TSCookie, though more recent reporting indicates likely separation between the two. PLEAD was observed in use as early as March 2017.[3][2]

EnterpriseS0435MalwareObject v2.0Modified
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Glexia's Take · Automated analysis

Security context for executives and security teams

Automation confidenceMedium

S0435: PLEAD describes [PLEAD](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0435) is a remote access tool (RAT) and downloader used by [BlackTech](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0098) in targeted attacks in East Asia including Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong.(Citation: TrendMicro BlackTech June 2017)(Citation: JPCert PLEAD Downloader June 2018) [PLEAD](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0435) has also been referred to as [TSCookie](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0436), though more recent reporting indicates likely separation between the two. [P...

Executive priority

S0435: PLEAD is an official MITRE ATT&CK software. Glexia treats it as defensive behavior context for prioritizing monitoring, control validation, and response planning without using the object by itself as an attribution claim.

Technical view

Security teams should validate S0435: PLEAD by reviewing the official ATT&CK relationships, mapped tactics (the mapped ATT&CK tactic context), supported platforms (Windows), and available local telemetry before making detection or mitigation decisions.

Likely telemetry

  • Official ATT&CK relationships and object metadata
  • Network, endpoint, and security-tool telemetry

Detection direction

  • Validate whether S0435: PLEAD appears in your detection coverage and tabletop scenarios.
  • Use the object to align executive risk language with SOC, incident response, and detection engineering work.
  • Do not treat ATT&CK relationship context as attribution without corroborating evidence.

Mitigation priorities

  • Map the object to existing controls and identify missing telemetry or response ownership.
  • Prioritize mitigations that reduce exposure on the listed platforms and tactics.
  • Review adjacent ATT&CK relationships before changing policy, detections, or reporting language.
Additional notes and limits

Baseline Glexia take generated from the official MITRE ATT&CK STIX object, source hash, tactics, platforms, and detection fields. It is safe to replace with a richer model-generated take for the same source hash later.

This baseline take is source-grounded and schema-validated, but it does not include environment-specific telemetry, incident evidence, or threat-intelligence corroboration.

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Official MITRE ATT&CK definition

PLEAD

PLEAD is a remote access tool (RAT) and downloader used by BlackTech in targeted attacks in East Asia including Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong.[1][2] PLEAD has also been referred to as TSCookie, though more recent reporting indicates likely separation between the two. PLEAD was observed in use as early as March 2017.[3][2]

View the same entry on attack.mitre.org (MITRE-hosted reference; in-page links above use the Glexia ATT&CK library.)

Glexia analysis

How security teams should use this page

Treat this object as behavior context, not an attribution claim. Validate the related groups, software, data sources, and mitigations against official ATT&CK relationships and your own telemetry before making control-coverage decisions.

ATT&CK relationship table

Techniques used

This mirrors the MITRE pattern of making group, software, campaign, and technique relationships scannable. Relationship notes come from mirrored ATT&CK relationship text when available.

15 rows
DomainIDNameRelationship / procedure
EnterpriseT1071.001Web ProtocolsSub-technique

PLEAD has used HTTP for communications with command and control (C2) servers.[2][1]

EnterpriseT1059.003Windows Command ShellSub-technique

PLEAD has the ability to execute shell commands on the compromised host.[2]

EnterpriseT1555Credentials from Password Stores

PLEAD has the ability to steal saved passwords from Microsoft Outlook.CitationESET PLEAD Malware July 2018

EnterpriseT1090Proxy

PLEAD has the ability to proxy network communications.[2]

EnterpriseT1204.002Malicious FileSub-technique

PLEAD has been executed via malicious e-mail attachments.[1]

EnterpriseT1083File and Directory Discovery

PLEAD has the ability to list drives and files on the compromised host.[1][2]

EnterpriseT1001.001Junk DataSub-technique

PLEAD samples were found to be highly obfuscated with junk code.CitationESET PLEAD Malware July 2018[1]

EnterpriseT1105Ingress Tool Transfer

PLEAD has the ability to upload and download files to and from an infected host.[2]

EnterpriseT1070.004File DeletionSub-technique

PLEAD has the ability to delete files on the compromised host.[1]

EnterpriseT1204.001Malicious LinkSub-technique

PLEAD has been executed via malicious links in e-mails.[1]

EnterpriseT1106Native API

PLEAD can use `ShellExecute` to execute applications.[1]

EnterpriseT1057Process Discovery

PLEAD has the ability to list processes on the compromised host.[1]

EnterpriseT1010Application Window Discovery

PLEAD has the ability to list open windows on the compromised host.[1][1]

EnterpriseT1573.001Symmetric CryptographySub-technique

PLEAD has used RC4 encryption to download modules.[2]

EnterpriseT1555.003Credentials from Web BrowsersSub-technique

PLEAD can harvest saved credentials from browsers such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox.[1]CitationESET PLEAD Malware July 2018

Associated objects

Groups, software, and campaigns

GroupEnterprise

G0098: BlackTech

BlackTech is a suspected Chinese cyber espionage group that has primarily targeted organizations in East Asia--particularly Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong--and the US since at least 2013. BlackTech has used a combination of custom malware, dual-use tools, and living off the land tactics to compromise media, construction, engineering, electronics, and financial company networks.[1][2][3]

Relationship explorer

All related ATT&CK context

uses · GroupG0098: BlackTechEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1071.001: Web ProtocolsEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1059.003: Windows Command ShellEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1555: Credentials from Password StoresEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1090: ProxyEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1204.002: Malicious FileEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1083: File and Directory DiscoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1001.001: Junk DataEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1105: Ingress Tool TransferEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1070.004: File DeletionEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1204.001: Malicious LinkEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1106: Native APIEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1057: Process DiscoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1010: Application Window DiscoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1573.001: Symmetric CryptographyEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1555.003: Credentials from Web BrowsersEnterprise
Change history

Object version and sync metadata

The fields below describe the current mirrored snapshot. When Glexia retains multiple ATT&CK source imports, you can open the table to compare the same object across releases (hashes and MITRE timestamps). For MITRE’s own release notes and roadmap, see ATT&CK resources — Updates.

ATT&CK release
19.2
Object version
2.0
Created
Modified
Raw hash
46a72f744758a120...
Imported snapshots across ATT&CK releases(2)
ReleaseBundle importedObject versionModifiedStatusRaw hash
19.22.0Current bundle46a72f744758…
19.12.0Older bundle46a72f744758…
Raw source

Mirrored ATT&CK source object

The raw object is retained through the mirrored ATT&CK source bundle and object hash. The raw endpoint returns the exact object from the mirrored bundle when available.

Open mirrored raw JSONOpen MITRE-hosted copy
Source references

External references and citations

MITRE external references are preserved separately from Glexia analysis so citations remain traceable to their original source records.

  1. [1]
    TrendMicro BlackTech June 2017

    Bermejo, L., et al. (2017, June 22). Following the Trail of BlackTech’s Cyber Espionage Campaigns. Retrieved May 5, 2020.

    Open source URL
  2. [2]
    JPCert PLEAD Downloader June 2018

    Tomonaga, S. (2018, June 8). PLEAD Downloader Used by BlackTech. Retrieved May 6, 2020.

    Open source URL
  3. [3]
    JPCert TSCookie March 2018

    Tomonaga, S. (2018, March 6). Malware “TSCookie”. Retrieved May 6, 2020.

    Open source URL
  4. [4]
    PLEAD

    PLEAD derived its name from letters used in backdoor commands in intrusion campaigns.(Citation: Trend Micro PLEAD RTLO)(Citation: TrendMicro BlackTech June 2017)

  5. [5]
    Trend Micro PLEAD RTLO

    Alintanahin, K.. (2014, May 23). PLEAD Targeted Attacks Against Taiwanese Government Agencies. Retrieved April 22, 2019.

    Open source URL
  6. [6]
    mitre-attackS0435
    Open source URL
Source and licensing

Source: MITRE ATT&CK®. © 2026 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK and ATT&CK are registered trademarks of The MITRE Corporation. Glexia is not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE.

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