TrojanSpy.Win64.AZORULT.AD

January 12, 2020
 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 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:

1,105,920 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

12 Jan 2020

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 adds the following processes:

  • %System%\cmd.exe /c icacls "%Application Data%\System Volume Information" /inheritance:e /deny "*S-1-1-0:(R,REA,RA,RD)" & icacls "%Application Data%\System Volume Information" /inheritance:e /deny "*S-1-5-7:(R,REA,RA,RD)" & icacls "%Application Data%\System Volume Information" /inheritance:e /deny "{username}:(R,REA,RA,RD)"
  • taskeng.exe {5F63B118-EF6C-4272-A2C3-D99399371CA7} S-1-5-21-2407829820-1079796033-203259571-500:{computername}\{username}:Interactive:[1]
  • icacls "%Application Data%\System Volume Information" /inheritance:e /deny "*S-1-1-0:(R,REA,RA,RD)"
  • icacls "%Application Data%\System Volume Information" /inheritance:e /deny "*S-1-5-7:(R,REA,RA,RD)"
  • icacls "%Application Data%\System Volume Information" /inheritance:e /deny "{username}:(R,REA,RA,RD)"
  • "%Application Data%\System Volume Information\svchost.exe"
  • %System%\sc.exe start w32time task_started
  • %System%\sdclt.exe /CONFIGNOTIFICATION
  • taskhost.exe SYSTEM
  • %System%\wsqmcons.exe
  • taskhost.exe $(Arg0)
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k LocalService
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k WerSvcGroup
  • %System%\schtasks.exe /delete /f /TN "Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\Uploader"

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\Sqm\Sessions
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\Sqm\Upload
  • %Application Data%\System Volume Information
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\Sqm\Manifest

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
svchost.exe = "%Application Data%\System Volume Information\svchost.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy deletes the following files:

  • {malware file path and name}

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\W32Time
Type = "16"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 20.)

Dropping Routine

This Trojan Spy drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\System Volume Information\svchost.exe

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

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as TrojanSpy.Win64.AZORULT.AD

[ 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 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
    • svchost.exe = "%Application Data%\System Volume Information\svchost.exe"

Step 5

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\W32Time
    • From: Type = "16"
      To: Type = ""20""

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ 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%\System Volume Information\svchost.exe

Step 7

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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\Sqm\Sessions
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\Sqm\Upload
  • %Application Data%\System Volume Information
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\Sqm\Manifest

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win64.AZORULT.AD. 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.

Step 9

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • {malware file path and name}


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