TSPY_SEPAR.AK


 ALIASES:

Trojan.Gen.2 (Symantec); Trojan.BAT.Agent.gfi (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Found Luhe.Fiha.A (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

2,524,647 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

04 Aug 2017

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 creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\Wilbert
  • %User Profile%\appdata
  • %User Profile%\appdata\local
  • %User Profile%\local\4Adobe
  • %User Profile%\4Adobe\4low
  • %User Profile%\Adobe INC\AadobeRead
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Adobe
  • %User Profile%\Adobe\Adobe INC
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\TEMP

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
sp89fft = "%User Profile%\AdobeRead\abb1.bat"

Other System Modifications

This Spyware deletes the following files:

  • %User Profile%\AadobeRead\adip2.klc
  • %User Profile%\AadobeRead\003_20~1.058
  • %User Profile%\AadobeRead\003_20~1.059

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WinRAR SFX

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Licenses

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}\LocalServer32

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}\ProgID

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}\Programmable

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}\VersionIndependentProgID

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WinRAR SFX
C%%Documents and Settings%Wilbert%appdata%local%4Adobe%4low = "%User Profile%\4Adobe\4low"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Licenses
{K7C0DB872A3F777C0} = "{random values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}
AppID = "{F808DF63-6049-11D1-BA20-006097D2898E}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Licenses
{ICAFDB58D0740813E} = "{random values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
RFC1156Agent\CurrentVersion\Parameters
TrapPollTimeMilliSecs = "3a98"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3a98.)

It deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}\Version

Dropping Routine

This Spyware drops the following files:

  • __tmp_rar_sfx_access_check_45203
  • abb1.bat
  • cdu03.bat
  • ert02.bat
  • adbr01.exe
  • adbr02.exe
  • Adobeta.exe
  • BReader.exe
  • 870.afr
  • sun.afr
  • Adob9.vbs
  • launch.vbs
  • 892.jpg
  • 012.012
  • %User Profile%\TEMP\RAIDTest
  • %User Temp%\9F86B0A0.TMP
  • 011.011
  • 112.112

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %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.)

Other Details

This Spyware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}.57.8

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.8

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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
    • WinRAR SFX
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Licenses
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}
    • LocalServer32
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}
    • ProgID
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}
    • Programmable
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}
    • VersionIndependentProgID

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
    • sp89fft = "%User Profile%\AdobeRead\abb1.bat"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WinRAR SFX
    • C%%Documents and Settings%Wilbert%appdata%local%4Adobe%4low = "%User Profile%\4Adobe\4low"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Licenses
    • {K7C0DB872A3F777C0} = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}
    • AppID = "{F808DF63-6049-11D1-BA20-006097D2898E}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Licenses
    • {ICAFDB58D0740813E} = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • EnableFirewall = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"

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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\RFC1156Agent\CurrentVersion\Parameters
    • From: TrapPollTimeMilliSecs = "3a98"
      To: TrapPollTimeMilliSecs = ""3a98""

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.
  • __tmp_rar_sfx_access_check_45203
  • abb1.bat
  • cdu03.bat
  • ert02.bat
  • adbr01.exe
  • adbr02.exe
  • Adobeta.exe
  • BReader.exe
  • 870.afr
  • sun.afr
  • Adob9.vbs
  • launch.vbs
  • 892.jpg
  • 012.012
  • %User Profile%\TEMP\RAIDTest
  • %User Temp%\9F86B0A0.TMP
  • 011.011
  • 112.112

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.
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\Wilbert
  • %User Profile%\appdata
  • %User Profile%\appdata\local
  • %User Profile%\local\4Adobe
  • %User Profile%\4Adobe\4low
  • %User Profile%\Adobe INC\AadobeRead
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Adobe
  • %User Profile%\Adobe\Adobe INC
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\TEMP

Step 8

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

  • %User Profile%\AadobeRead\adip2.klc
  • %User Profile%\AadobeRead\003_20~1.058
  • %User Profile%\AadobeRead\003_20~1.059

Step 10

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

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

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{71E816AE-B6E7-34BA-0341-332B111F53E6}
    • Version


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