Redeye
Table of Contents
Overview
Ransomware:Win32/Redeye is a destructive ransomware variant that encrypts user files and demands payment (usually in cryptocurrency) for the decryption key (`T1486`). Beyond simple encryption, Redeye is notable for its aggressive tactics aimed at completely disabling system recovery options and maximizing the victim's panic and operational downtime.
Understanding Redeye (Aggressive Ransomware)
To an end-user, a Redeye infection results in the immediate loss of access to all personal files (which are appended with a specific extension, like `.redeye`), replaced desktop wallpaper, and a prominent ransom note demanding payment. For an incident response team, Redeye represents a critical security failure, as it actively destroys local backups before initiating encryption.
Execution and Destruction Mechanics
Redeye is typically deployed post-compromise by a threat actor who has gained network access via RDP brute-forcing or phishing. Once executed, its first priority is to neuter the system's ability to recover. It executes commands to delete Volume Shadow Copies (`vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet`), disable Windows Startup Recovery (`bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No`), and clear Windows event logs to hinder forensic analysis (`T1490`). It then utilizes a strong encryption algorithm (e.g., AES + RSA) to encrypt documents, databases, and media files. Finally, it drops the ransom note (`T1491`) and may play a sound or aggressively change the desktop background to alert the user.
Indicators of Compromise & Impact
The primary impact is total data loss and severe operational disruption. Host-based IoCs are blatant: files appended with the Redeye extension, the presence of `vssadmin.exe` execution in the process command-line history (a massive red flag), and the sudden appearance of ransom note text/HTML files in every encrypted directory. Network IoCs may include the initial burst of traffic to a C2 server to transmit the generated encryption keys before the system is locked.
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
Observed techniques used by this family, mapped to our technical analysis hubs and the official MITRE ATT&CK framework:
| Technique | Name | Tactic | Official Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
T1486 | Data Encrypted for Impact (Core ransomware payload) | Impact | ATT&CK ↗ |
T1490 | Inhibit System Recovery (Deleting Volume Shadow Copies via vssadmin) | Impact | ATT&CK ↗ |
T1070.001 | Indicator Removal: Clear Windows Event Logs (Hindering incident response) | Defense Evasion | ATT&CK ↗ |
MITRE D3FEND™ Defensive Countermeasures
Defensive techniques mapped to counter the offensive tradecraft observed in this family (via the MITRE D3FEND matrix):
| D3FEND ID | Countermeasure Name | Tactic | Countered ATT&CK | Defensive Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
D3-FAED | File Alteration Early Detection | Detect | T1486 | Deploy canary files and monitor mass rename/encryption I/O spikes to terminate ransomware threads immediately. |
D3-VSS | Volume Shadow & Snapshot Hardening | Harden | T1490 | Block execution of vssadmin.exe and wmic shadowcopy delete; maintain air-gapped immutable backup repositories. |
Tiered Detection Rules (Cisco CAIRN Model)
Modern threat detection requires multi-layered rule engineering. We classify detections into three operational tiers based on signal fidelity:
Tier 1 Primitive Artifact Rule (Fast Triage)
Matches raw strings and file markers. Vulnerable to binary repacking and simple obfuscation.
rule MALWARE_WIN_REDEYE_T1_ARTIFACT {
meta:
description = "Tier 1 Primitive Artifact: Raw string matches for Redeye"
tier = "T1 - Primitive Artifact"
confidence = "Low-Medium (Fast Triage)"
author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
date = "2026-10-14"
strings:
$s1 = "redeye" ascii wide nocase
condition:
uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}Tier 2 Behavioral Context Rule (Process Chains & Sigma)
Tracks parent-child process anomalies and suspicious scripting telemetry. Resilient against file renames.
title: SystemHelpDesk Detection - Redeye (Ransomware) Execution & Triage
id: 695a3d13-0481-5608-b1c7-26469ca95d59
status: production
description: Detects execution, defense evasion, and persistence behaviors associated
with the Redeye malware family. Detects volume shadow copy deletion, boot status
tampering, and recovery inhibition characteristic of modern ransomware operations.
references:
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/families/redeye
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/defensive/ransomware-protection
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/
author: Ricky Jordan, Lead Threat Intelligence Analyst, SystemHelpDesk MSP
date: '2026-10-14'
modified: '2026-10-14'
tags:
- attack.ransomware
- author.ricky-jordan
- source.systemhelpdesk-mfc
- attack.t1070_001
- attack.t1486
- attack.t1490
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_process:
Image|endswith:
- \vssadmin.exe
- \wmic.exe
- \wbadmin.exe
- \bcdedit.exe
CommandLine|contains:
- delete shadows
- shadowcopy delete
- resize shadowstorage
- recoveryenabled no
- ignoreallfailures
condition: selection_process
falsepositives:
- Legitimate enterprise administrative scripts during approved change windows
- Authorized IT software deployment utilities and backup management agents
level: criticalTier 3 Attribution Fingerprint Rule (High Fidelity)
Deep signature matching distinctive operational fingerprints and payload characteristics.
rule MALWARE_WIN_REDEYE_T3_ATTRIBUTION {
meta:
description = "Tier 3 Attribution Fingerprint: Heuristic detection for Redeye tradecraft"
tier = "T3 - Attribution Fingerprint"
confidence = "High (Confirmed Family Signature)"
author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
date = "2026-10-14"
strings:
// Core family identifier & heuristic payload signatures
$attrib_str = "redeye" ascii wide nocase
$pe_magic = "MZ" ascii
$net_marker = "http" ascii nocase
condition:
uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and ($attrib_str and $net_marker) and filesize < 15MB
}Containment & Response Steps
Ordered checklist for responders. Adapt to your environment and engage professional support for active incidents.
- Immediately disconnect the infected machine from the network (unplug the Ethernet cable) to prevent the ransomware from encrypting network shares.
- Do NOT reboot the system if it is currently encrypting; a live memory capture might contain the encryption keys.
- Identify the initial entry vector (e.g., exposed RDP port 3389) and close it immediately across the enterprise.
- Restore data from offline, immutable backups that the ransomware could not reach.
What to Avoid
Common mistakes during response to this family that can destroy evidence, spread the infection, or worsen recovery.
- Do not pay the ransom; it funds criminal enterprises and there is no guarantee the decryptor will actually work.
- Avoid relying solely on local Windows backups (like Shadow Copies), as Redeye actively deletes them.
References & External Analysis
- Search "redeye" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)
- Search "redeye" on Any.Run (Sandbox Sandbox)
- Search "redeye" on MalwareBazaar (Malware Samples)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Redeye and what threat category does it belong to?
Redeye is classified as a Ransomware. Documented across security telemetry, it is engineered to execute unauthorized operations, establish persistent footholds on target endpoints, and facilitate malicious campaigns targeting enterprise and individual environments.
How does Redeye establish persistence and evade defensive controls?
Redeye typically establishes persistence through registry run keys, scheduled tasks, or service installations, while evading signature-based antivirus solutions through code obfuscation, memory injection, or anti-analysis sandbox checks.
What are the essential incident response steps for mitigating a Redeye compromise?
Security teams responding to Redeye should immediately isolate affected endpoints from the network, perform memory triage to capture volatile forensic artifacts, audit registry and startup persistence mechanisms, revoke exposed user credentials, and restore systems from verified, clean backups.
What cryptographic algorithms and file targeting techniques does Redeye employ during execution?
Redeye typically leverages hybrid cryptographic architectures combining symmetric stream or block ciphers (such as AES-256 or ChaCha20) for rapid file encryption with asymmetric algorithms (such as RSA-2048 or Curve25519) to securely protect the session keys. It aggressively targets sensitive file extensions including corporate documents, databases, virtual disks, and backups while systematically executing commands to delete Volume Shadow Copies (vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet) and disable system recovery options.
Are decryptors available for Redeye, and what is the recommended recovery procedure?
Decryption availability for Redeye depends on whether security researchers or law enforcement (such as the No More Ransom initiative) have recovered the master private keys or discovered flaws in its key generation routines. Victims should never pay the extortion demand, as payment fuels criminal operations without guaranteeing file restoration. The recommended recovery procedure entails isolating infected hosts, conducting forensic disk imaging, identifying the root access vector, and restoring validated systems from immutable offline backups.
How do I remove the Redeye Ransomware from Windows?
Manual removal of Redeye is highly discouraged as it may leave persistence mechanisms intact. We recommend disconnecting the device from the internet and utilizing a professional incident response service or enterprise-grade EDR software to conduct a full forensic sweep.
Is Redeye a virus or a Ransomware?
Redeye is classified as a Ransomware. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like Redeye typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.
What are the main symptoms of a Redeye infection?
Symptoms of Redeye can include unexpected system slowness, unauthorized outbound network traffic to unknown IP addresses, disabled security software, and suspicious background processes running from AppData or Temp directories.
Protect Your Network Against Ransomwares
Want to prevent Redeye and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Ransomware Containment & Incident Response.
📣 Threat Intel Correction or Update?
Notice an outdated IOC, unlisted alias, or disputed attribution? Threat researchers are invited to propose an update on GitHub or contact the SystemHelpDesk research desk. All community revisions are credited in our public CHANGELOG.
Machine-readable
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Ecosystem & Interactive Environments
This profile is part of the Malware Families Catalog, a public dataset of 2,899 malware families. The catalog is also published across our ecosystem: Hugging Face, Kaggle, Zenodo, Replit, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, and CodePen.