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TSPY_EMOTET.XXPV

February 26, 2015
 ALIASES:

Win32/Emotet.AB(ESET-NOD32); Trojan-PSW.Win32.Tepfer.uqye( Kaspersky); Downloader.Ponik(Symantec)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible. It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

156,552 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Dec 2014

Arrival Details

This spyware 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 spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\Identities\{random filename}.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Autostart Technique

This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random filename}.exe = "%Application Data%\Identities\{random filename}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape\
5.0\{random 1}\e{random 1}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape\
5.0\{random 1}\q{random 1}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape\
5.0\{random 1}\w{random 1}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
STest2

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
STest2\Recent File List

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
STest2\Settings

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
GlobalUserOffline = "0"

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.52:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.86.207:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.186:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.170.164:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.220.50:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.17.185:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.199.119:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.144:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.249.53:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.59.161:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.169.146:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.180:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.111.17:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.1.22:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.231.167:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.54.24:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.214:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.59.191:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.110.43:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.35:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.192:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.213.92:8080/{random 1}/{random 2}/

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.312.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

01 Dec 2014

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.313.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

02 Dec 2014

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 filename}.exe = "%Application Data%\Identities\{random filename}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • GlobalUserOffline = "0"

Step 5

Delete this registry key

[ 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\Netscape\5.0
    • {random 1}

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications
    • STest2

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_EMOTET.XXPV. 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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