{
  "family": "plinch",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "trojan",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nPlinch (often synonymous with the \"Pinch\" or \"Linch\" malware families) is a dedicated Information Stealer (Info-stealer) Trojan. Emerging in the mid-to-late 2000s, its primary objective is to silently infiltrate a Windows workstation, rapidly extract sensitive data (specifically targeting saved passwords across a massive variety of applications), and exfiltrate this intelligence to a remote Command and Control (C2) server via email or HTTP POST requests.\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities</h3>\nPlinch was notoriously distributed via a builder kit sold on underground forums, allowing novice \"script kiddies\" to generate custom variants. Infection vectors typically involved spear-phishing campaigns, malicious P2P downloads, or bundling with cracked software.\n\nOnce executed, Plinch is designed for comprehensive, rapid data acquisition:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Broad Software Targeting:</strong> Unlike specialized banking trojans, Plinch casts a very wide net. It targets the local storage databases and registry keys of dozens of applications, including web browsers (IE, Firefox, Opera), email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird), FTP clients (FileZilla, CuteFTP), and Instant Messaging software (ICQ, Trillian).</li>\n<li><strong>System Intelligence:</strong> In addition to passwords, the malware collects detailed system telemetry, including the OS version, IP address, installed software, and network configuration.</li>\n<li><strong>Stealth and Exfiltration:</strong> The malware often injects itself into legitimate processes (like `explorer.exe`) to hide its activity. It rapidly compresses the stolen data into a customized archive and transmits it to the attacker before the user realizes a compromise has occurred.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Threat Assessment</h3>\nA Plinch infection is a critical data breach. The immediate theft of FTP credentials, email passwords, and browser sessions can lead directly to corporate network compromise, website defacement, and severe identity theft.\n\n<h3>Incident Response and Remediation</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Immediate Network Isolation:</strong> Isolate the machine to halt any ongoing data exfiltration.</li>\n<li><strong>Universal Credential Reset:</strong> Assume all passwords saved in *any* application on the infected host are fully compromised. The user must force a logout of all active web sessions and change all passwords from a known-secure device.</li>\n<li><strong>Endpoint Eradication:</strong> Utilize enterprise EDR or anti-malware tools to locate and terminate the Plinch process. Investigate the system for persistence mechanisms (Run keys) and secondary payloads, as Info-stealers are often followed by other malware.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Trojan.PWS.Pinch",
    "Infostealer.Plinch",
    "Linch"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1003",
    "T1552.001",
    "T1555.003",
    "T1048"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01T17:35:12Z",
  "type": "Trojan / Info-Stealer",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}