HackTool.Win32.CheatEngine.E

December 30, 2019
 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Hacking Tool

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Hacking Tool 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:

4,787,200 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Dec 2019

Arrival Details

This Hacking Tool 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 Hacking Tool adds the following processes:

  • "%User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\{malware file name}.exe" -ORIGIN:"%User Temp%\"
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\{malware file name}.exe "%User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\CET_TRAINER.CETRAINER" "-ORIGIN:%User Temp%\"

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\win32
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This Hacking Tool modifies the following file(s):

  • %System%\winmm.dll
  • %System%\rsaenh.dll
  • %System%\dciman32.dll
  • %System%\ntmarta.dll
  • %System%\ddraw.dll
  • %System%\msimg32.dll
  • %System%\opengl32.dll
  • %System%\glu32.dll
  • %System%\version.dll
  • %System%\shfolder.dll
  • %System%\hhctrl.ocx
  • %System%\uxtheme.dll
  • %System%\duser.dll
  • %System%\wsock32.dll

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

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cheat Engine\
Window Positions

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cheat Engine\
Window Positions
AdvancedOptions Position = "~\x01\x00\x00\xff\x01\x00\x00t\x02\x00\x00)\x01\x00\x00"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cheat Engine\
Window Positions
frmAutoInject Position = "\x87\x01\x00\x00\x00\x05\x00\x00\xaf\x01\x00\x00K\x01\x00\x00"

Dropping Routine

This Hacking Tool drops the following files:

  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\sspicli.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\shell32.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\{malware file name}.exe
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\userenv.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\win32\dbghelp.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-normaliz-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\comdlg32.dll
  • %System%\propsys.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\msctf.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\shlwapi.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\advapi32.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\lua53-32.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\defines.lua
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\ws2_32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\clbcatq.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\psapi.dll
  • %System%\cryptsp.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\lpk.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\CRYPTBASE.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\cfgmgr32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\devobj.dll
  • %System%\explorerframe.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\usp10.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\imagehlp.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\setupapi.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\iertutil.dll
  • %System%\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.DLL
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\kernel32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\nsi.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-version-l1-1-0.dll
  • %System%\dui70.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\CET_Archive.dat
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\oleaut32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\gdi32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\wininet.dll
  • %System%\dwmapi.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\{malware file name}.exe
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\KERNELBASE.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-shlwapi-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\msvcrt.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\imm32.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\CET_TRAINER.CETRAINER
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\user32.dll
  • %Windows%\winsxs\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.7601.17514_none_41e6975e2bd6f2b2\comctl32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\ole32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\profapi.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\Wldap32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\sechost.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\rpcrt4.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\normaliz.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

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

Identify and terminate files detected as HackTool.Win32.CheatEngine.E

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

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\Cheat Engine
    • Window Positions

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\Cheat Engine\Window Positions
    • AdvancedOptions Position = "~\x01\x00\x00\xff\x01\x00\x00t\x02\x00\x00)\x01\x00\x00"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cheat Engine\Window Positions
    • frmAutoInject Position = "\x87\x01\x00\x00\x00\x05\x00\x00\xaf\x01\x00\x00K\x01\x00\x00"

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\sspicli.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\shell32.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\{malware file name}.exe
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\userenv.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\win32\dbghelp.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-normaliz-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\comdlg32.dll
  • %System%\propsys.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\msctf.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\shlwapi.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\advapi32.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\lua53-32.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\defines.lua
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\ws2_32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\clbcatq.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\psapi.dll
  • %System%\cryptsp.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\lpk.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\CRYPTBASE.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\cfgmgr32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\devobj.dll
  • %System%\explorerframe.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\usp10.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\imagehlp.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\setupapi.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-advapi32-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\ntdll.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\iertutil.dll
  • %System%\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.DLL
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\kernel32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\nsi.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-version-l1-1-0.dll
  • %System%\dui70.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\CET_Archive.dat
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\oleaut32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\gdi32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\wininet.dll
  • %System%\dwmapi.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\{malware file name}.exe
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\KERNELBASE.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-shlwapi-l1-1-0.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\msvcrt.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\imm32.dll
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\CET_TRAINER.CETRAINER
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\user32.dll
  • %Windows%\winsxs\x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.7601.17514_none_41e6975e2bd6f2b2\comctl32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\ole32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\profapi.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\Wldap32.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\sechost.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\rpcrt4.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\normaliz.dll
  • %Windows%\SysWOW64\api-ms-win-downlevel-user32-l1-1-0.dll

Step 6

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.
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted\win32
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers\CETC9D.tmp\extracted
  • %User Temp%\cetrainers

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HackTool.Win32.CheatEngine.E. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:

Step 8

Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

    • %System%\winmm.dll
    • %System%\rsaenh.dll
    • %System%\dciman32.dll
    • %System%\ntmarta.dll
    • %System%\ddraw.dll
    • %System%\msimg32.dll
    • %System%\opengl32.dll
    • %System%\glu32.dll
    • %System%\version.dll
    • %System%\shfolder.dll
    • %System%\hhctrl.ocx
    • %System%\uxtheme.dll
    • %System%\duser.dll
    • %System%\wsock32.dll


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