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TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.SMC3

January 25, 2020
 Analysis by: Arvin Roi Macaraeg
 ALIASES:

HEUR:Trojan-Banker.Win32.Emotet.pef(KASPERSKY); Trojan:Win32/Emotet.ARJ!MTB(MICROSOFT); Emotet-FPT!0B5A0B72F6E4(NAI);

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 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.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

639,069 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

24 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:

  • {Malware file path and name} --{8 random characters}
  • "%System%\trnsacquire.exe"
  • %System%\trnsacquire.exe --{8 random characters}

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

Autostart Technique

This Trojan Spy registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\trnsacquire
ImagePath = "%System%\trnsacquire.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\trnsacquire
DisplayName = "trnsacquire"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\trnsacquire
Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan Spy drops the following files:

  • %System%\trnsacquire.exe

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

Other Details

This Trojan Spy connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://6{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}88:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.228/{random characters}

It deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.638.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

23 Jan 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.639.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

24 Jan 2020

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

    • TSPY.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF034E0002

Step 2

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 3

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 4

Identify and terminate files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.SMC3

[ 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 5

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\trnsacquire
    • ImagePath = "%System%\trnsacquire.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\trnsacquire
    • DisplayName = "trnsacquire"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\trnsacquire
    • Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

Step 6

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.
  • %System%\trnsacquire.exe

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.SMC3. 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:


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