TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.THBABAI

 Analysis by: Jay Garcia

 ALIASES:

Win32:BankerX-gen [Trj](Avast); Trojan:Win32/Emotet.AC!bit(Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan Spy

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan Spy arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

457,216 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

13 Feb 2019

Arrival Details

This Trojan Spy arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This Trojan Spy drops a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • %System%\{random string}{random string}.exe - if run with admin rights
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random string}{random string}\{random string}{random string}.exe - if run without admin rights

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan Spy adds and runs the following services:

  • Service Name: {random string}{random string}
    Description: Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to computers designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, this list will not be updated or maintained. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
    ImagePath: %System%\{random string}{random string}.exe
    DisplayName: {random string}{random string}

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It creates the following registry entries to enable automatic execution of dropped component at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random string}{random string} = %AppDataLocal%\{random string}{random string}.exe (Note: if run without admin rights)

Other Details

This Trojan Spy connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.164.31:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.233.127:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.202:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.0.160:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.17.206:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.100.202:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.191.231:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.210.108:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.135.40:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.153.50/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.139.138:8090/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.84.35:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.199.181:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216.247:53/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.81.243/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.58.47:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.87.18:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.195.97:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.219.98/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.111.19:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.17.7:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.187.192:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.175.91:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.58.13/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.243.43:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.223.154:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.44.240:8090/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.208.27:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.3.54:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.129.30:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.147.179:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.5.242:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.143.75:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.83.146/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.31.162:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.196.209:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.68.123/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.149.117:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.246.130:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.68.21:995/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.69.193/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.37.188:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.23.252:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.13.124:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.106.160:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.210.108:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.28.126:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.87.227:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.129:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.124.62:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.200.114:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.208.50/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.171.26/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216.125:53/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.6.2:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.108.93/
  • www7017uj.sakura.{BLOCKED}e.jp:7080

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.808.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

12 Feb 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.809.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

13 Feb 2019

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random string}{random string} = "%AppDataLocal%\{random string}{random string}\{random string}{random string}.exe"

Step 5

Disable this malware service

[ Learn More ]
    • Service Name: {random string}{random string}
    • ImagePath: %System%\{random string}{random string}.exe
    • DisplayName: {random string}{random string}

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %System%\{random string}{random string}.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random string}{random string}\{random string}{random string}.exe

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.THBABAI. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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