TSPY_TALOC.NSW
Trojan:Win32/Taloc.B (Microsoft)
Windows
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware
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.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page into a certain website. This action allows the malware to point to a website which may contain malware, putting the affected computer at greater risk of malware infection.
It requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
114,856 bytes
DLL
Yes
18 Mar 2015
Steals information, Compromises system security
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 adds the following processes:
- svchost.exe
It creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\HS_\{root drive}\NPKI
- %User Temp%\HS_\Appdata\NPKI
- %User Temp%\HS_\Pf\NPKI
(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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 itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:
- created svchost.exe
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
syotom = "%System%\svchost.exe"
It modifies the following registry key(s)/entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "www.naver.com"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "{user's main page}".)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Tcpip\Parameters\
Interfaces\{GUID}
NameServer = "127.0.0.1,127.0.0.1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "".)
Propagation
This spyware does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This spyware does not have any backdoor routine.
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This spyware modifies the user's Internet Explorer home page to the following websites:
- www.naver.com
Information Theft
This spyware gathers the following data:
- MAC address
- Nested Certificate Based Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI)
Other Details
This spyware requires its main component to successfully perform its intended routine.
NOTES:
It checks if the infected machine has Nested Certificate Based Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI) by searching the following folders:
- {root drive}:\NPKI
- %AppDataLocal%\NPKI
- %Program Files%\NPKI
It copies all the contents of the NPKI folders to the following created folders:
- %User Temp%\HS_\{root drive}\NPKI
- %User Temp%\HS_\Appdata\NPKI
- %User Temp%\HS_\Pf\NPKI
It compresses the folder %User Temp%\HS_ to the following ZIP file:
- %User Temp%\{random 32 alphanumeric characters}.zip
It connects to the following URL to get the IP of C&C server:
- http://{BLOCKED}e.qq.com/cgi-bin/user/cgi_personal_card?uin=2867523903?={number}
It steals the MAC address of the infected machine and sends it to the following URL:
- http://www.{BLOCKED}i.net/Count.asp?ver=001&mac={MAC address}
It reports the infection by connecting to the following URL:
- http://{IP of C&C server}/ip.php?={number}
It sends the compressed file {random 32 alphanumeric characters}.zip to the following URL:
- http://{IP of C&C server}/upload.php
It performs DNS spoofing by redirecting to the C&C server when users connect to the following search engine sites:
- www.naver.com
- www.daum.net
- hanmail.net
- www.nate.com
When users access the mentioned search engines in web browsers, the following are displayed:
- replica of the search engine site
- logos of banks and other financial related sites with links to the pharming sites
The URLs of the pharming sites are in the format of {true URL}.r and are redirected to the C&C server.
The credentials of the users are stolen when they try to log into their accounts using these pharming sites.
It does not have rootkit capabilities.
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
SOLUTION
9.750
11.552.05
21 Mar 2015
11.553.00
22 Mar 2015
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
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- syotom = "%System%\svchost.exe"
- syotom = "%System%\svchost.exe"
Step 5
Restore this modified registry value
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\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{GUID}
- From: NameServer = "127.0.0.1,127.0.0.1"
To: NameServer = ""
- From: NameServer = "127.0.0.1,127.0.0.1"
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %User Temp%\HS_
Step 7
Search and delete these files
- %User Temp%\{random 32 alphanumeric characters}.zip
Step 8
Reset the Internet Explorer Home and Search pages
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_TALOC.NSW. 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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