BKDR_QAKBOT.MEPN

March 31, 2017
 Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla
 ALIASES:

Backdoor:Win32/Qakbot.T (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain specific strings. It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

532,480 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Mar 2017

Payload:

Compromises system security, Steals information

Arrival Details

This Backdoor 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 Backdoor drops the following component file(s):

  • %User Startup%\{random}.lnk ← executes copy of itself on startup
  • %Windows%\Tasks\{GUID 2}.job (for Windows XP and below) ← executes the Javascript component
  • %System%\Tasks\{GUID 2} (for Windows Vista and above) ← executes the Javascript component
  • %Windows%\Tasks\{GUID 1}.job (for Windows XP and below) ← executes the dropped copy
  • %System%\Tasks\{GUID 1} (for Windows Vista and above) ← executes the dropped copy
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random file name}.dat ← encrypted component
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random file name}32.dll ← encrypted configuration file
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random file name}.wpl ← Javascript component

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2000 and XP, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %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.)

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

  • {malware path and file name}\{random file name}.exe

It adds the following processes:

  • explorer.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}

(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.)

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • explorer.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random name} = %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

Process Termination

This Backdoor terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • windbg.exe
  • ChromeUpdate.exe
  • msdev.exe
  • dbgview.exe
  • ollydbg.exe
  • ctfmon.exe
  • Proxifier.exe
  • nav.exe

Information Theft

This Backdoor monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the affected system, specifically the address bar or title bar. It recreates a legitimate website with a spoofed login page if a user visits banking sites with the following strings in the address bar or title bar:

  • .hsbcnet.com
  • .web-access.com
  • .webcashmgmt.com
  • /achupload
  • /cashman/
  • /cashplus/
  • /clkccm/
  • /cmserver/
  • /corpach/
  • /ibws/
  • /payments/ach
  • /stbcorp/
  • /wcmpr/
  • /wcmpw/
  • /wcmtr/
  • /wires/
  • /wiret
  • access.jpmorgan.com
  • accessonline.abnamro.com
  • achbatchlisting
  • bankeft.com
  • blilk.com
  • business-eb.ibanking-services.com
  • businessaccess.citibank.citigroup.com
  • businessbankingcenter.synovus.com
  • businessinternetbanking.synovus.com
  • businessonline.huntington.com
  • businessonline.tdbank.com
  • cashmanageronline.bbt.com
  • cashproonline.bankofamerica.com
  • cbs.firstcitizensonline.com
  • chsec.wellsfargo.com
  • cmol.bbt.com
  • cmoltp.bbt.com
  • commercial.bnc.ca
  • commercial.wachovia.com
  • commercial2.wachovia.com
  • commercial3.wachovia.com
  • commercial4.wachovia.com
  • corporatebanking
  • cpw-achweb.bankofamerica.com
  • ctm.53.com
  • directline4biz.com
  • directpay.wellsfargo.com
  • e-facts.org
  • e-moneyger.com
  • each.bremer.com
  • ebanking-services.com
  • ebc_ebc
  • express.53.com
  • firstmeritib.com
  • firstmeritib.com/defaultcorp.aspx
  • goldleafach.com
  • iachwellsprod.wellsfargo.com
  • ibc.klikbca.com
  • iris.sovereignbank.com
  • itreasury.regions.com
  • itreasurypr.regions.com
  • jsp/mainWeb.jsp
  • ktt.key.com
  • moneymanagergps.com
  • netconnect.bokf.com
  • nj00-wcm
  • ocm.suntrust.com
  • onlineserv/CM
  • otm.suntrust.com
  • paylinks.cunet.org
  • premierview.membersunited.org
  • providentnjolb.com
  • scotiaconnect.scotiabank.com
  • securentrycorp.amegybank.com
  • securentrycorp.zionsbank.com
  • singlepoint.usbank.com
  • svbconnect.com
  • tcfexpressbusiness.com
  • tdetreasury.tdbank.com
  • tmcb.zionsbank.com
  • tmconnectweb
  • treas-mgt.frostbank.com
  • treasury.pncbank.com
  • trz.tranzact.org
  • tssportal.jpmorgan.com
  • wc.wachovia.com
  • wcp.wachovia.com
  • web-cashplus.com
  • webexpress.tdbank.com
  • wellsoffice.wellsfargo.com

It gathers the following data:

  • GeoIP locations
  • Browser cookies
  • Flash cookies
  • Network information
  • System information
  • FTP, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, HTTPMail, NNTP Passwords
  • Outlook login credentials
  • Private keys from system certificates
  • Login credentials for certain websites
  • Internet sessions

Other Details

This Backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • cnn.com
  • microsoft.com
  • baidu.com
  • facebook.com
  • yahoo.com
  • wikipedia.org
  • qq.com
  • linkedin.com
  • mail.ru

It connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • www.ip-adress.com

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • {generated domain}.(com|net|org|info|biz|org)

It does the following:

  • It connects to the following site to check for internet connection:
    • http://sanjose.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
    • http://boston.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
    • http://jacksonville.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
    • http://houston.speedtest.comcast.net/random750x750.jpg?x={random numbers}&y=1
  • It is capable of the following:
    • Download and execute component files
    • Download configuration and updates
    • Download updated copy of itself
    • Uninstall itself
    • Kill processes
    • Upload files containing stolen information
    • Perform FTP functionalities
  • It sends the following information to its C&C server:
    • ext_ip
    • dnsname
    • hostname
    • user
    • domain
    • is_admin
    • os
    • qbot_version
    • install_time
    • exe
  • It also steals stored passwords, cache and cookies from the following servers:
    • 001e6608
    • 001e6607
    • Email
    • HTTP Server URL
    • HTTP User
    • HTTPMail Server
    • HTTPMail User Name
    • IMAP Server
    • IMAP User
    • IMAP User Name
    • NNTP Email Address
    • NNTP Server
    • NNTP User Name
    • POP3 Server
    • POP3 User
    • POP3 User Name
    • SMTP Email Address
    • SMTP Server
    • SMTP User
    • SMTP User Name
  • It also monitors the browsing activities of the infected computer and logs all information related to websites containing the following strings:
    • .5min.com
    • 127.0.0.1
    • 180solutions.com
    • .adworldmedia.com
    • .amazonaws.com
    • .bing.com
    • .gator.com
    • .microsoft.com
    • .mozilla.com
    • .mozilla.org
    • .twimg.com
    • \.king.com
    • api.skype.com
    • audatexsolutions.com
    • auditude.com
    • brightcove.com
    • clients.mindbodyonline.com
    • conduit-services.com
    • contacts.msn.com
    • digitalmediacommunications.com
    • doubleclick.
    • eorezo.com
    • etsy.com
    • facebook.com
    • farmville.com
    • fwmrm.net
    • googleusercontent.com
    • hotbar.com
    • internet-optimizer.com
    • kixeye.com
    • localhost
    • loyaltyconnect.ihg.com
    • lphbs.com
    • mail.google.com
    • mail.services.live.com
    • mapquest.com
    • mendeley.com
    • messenger.live.com
    • mochibot.com
    • mybrowserbar.com
    • myshopres.com
    • netflix.com
    • newasp.com.cn
    • owlforce.com
    • phantomefx.com
    • playtoga.com
    • r777r.info
    • radialpoint.com
    • salesforce.com
    • search.msn.com
    • securestudies.com
    • seekmo.com
    • sipuku.com
    • spamblockerutility.com
    • storage.live.com
    • tbreport.bellsouth.net
    • tubemogul.com
    • webhancer.com
    • wildtangent.com
    • wpzkq.com
    • youtube.com
    • zango.com
    • zynga.com
  • It terminates itself when executed in the following Virtual Environments:
    • Virtual HD
    • VirtualProtect
    • VirtualBox
    • CWSandbox
    • VMWare
  • It checks for the following running process:
    • AvastSvc.exe
    • avgcsrvx.exe
    • ccSvcHst.exe
    • coreServiceShell.exe
    • egui.exe
    • mcshield.exe
    • vsservppl.exe
  • It checks if the following anti-virus software is installed:
    • norton
    • AVG
    • mcaffee
    • kaspersky
    • NOD32
    • Bitdefender
    • Avast
    • Trend Micro
    • Microsoft Security Essentials

It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain the following strings:

  • siteadvisor.com
  • avgthreatlabs.com
  • safeweb.norton.com

It deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

13.308.01

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

29 Mar 2017

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

13.309.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

30 Mar 2017

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 name} = "%Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"

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.
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}

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.
%Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random file name}.dat
%Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random file name}32.dll
%Application Data%\Microsoft\{random file name}.wpl
%User Startup%\{random}.lnk
%Windows%\Tasks\{GUID 2}.job (for Windows XP and below)
%System%\Tasks\{GUID 2} (for Windows Vista and above)
%Windows%\Tasks\{GUID 1}.job (for Windows XP and below)
%System%\Tasks\{GUID 1} (for Windows Vista and above)

Step 7

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