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TSPY_SOCELARS.NSGAAAH

July 26, 2018
 Analysis by: Kiyoshi Obuchi
 ALIASES:

W32/Socelars.K!tr.spy (Fortinet); TR/AD.Socelars.ghjml (Avira (no cloud))

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Trojan Spy

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet


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:

585,728 bytes

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

10 Jul 2018

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information, Modifies system registry, Creates files

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.

Autostart Technique

This Trojan Spy is a .DLL file that adds the following services:

  • MicroServiceGroup

It starts the following services:

  • MicroServiceGroup

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
Type = 32

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
Start = 2

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
ErrorControl = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
ImagePath = %SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k MicroServiceGroup

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
DisplayName = MicroService

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
ObjectName = LocalSystem

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost
MicroServiceGroup = MicroService

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
Description = MicroService

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService\Parameters
ServiceDll = {malware path}\{malware name}.dll

Stolen Information

This Trojan Spy sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}-lj180623.com/api/send

Other Details

This Trojan Spy does the following:

  • This Trojan Spy uses Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer browser cookies to try to login to the victim's Facebook account.
  • After successful login, this Trojan Spy attempts to steal the victim's banking information by querying the victim's Facebook payment information.
  • This Trojan Spy connects to the following Facebook URL to steal victim's information:
    • https://secure.facebook.com/payments/settings/payment_methods/?__a=1
    • https://www.facebook.com//bluebar/modern_settings_menu/
    • https://www.facebook.com/bookmarks/pages
    • https://www.facebook.com/profile.php
    • https://www.facebook.com/settings
  • It is capable of uninstalling itself by deleting its own service.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.372.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

11 Jul 2018

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.373.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

12 Jul 2018

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services
    • MicroService

Step 5

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