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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\{Random File Name.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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
It drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\info.dat
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\systeminfo32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\FAQ
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\README.md
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\dinj
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\Dpost
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\sinj
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\importDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32_configs\mailconf
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32_configs\dpost
(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
It adds the following processes:
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32_configs
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32_configs
(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
Autostart Technique
The scheduled task executes the malware every:
- Task Name: Msnetc
- Task Trigger: System startup & Every 10 minutes since first triggered.
- Task command: %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\{Random File Name.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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)
Other Details
This Trojan Spy connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED.{BLOCKED}.210.9:8082/tot308/{ComputerName}_{EncryptedData}
- {BLOCKED.{BLOCKED}.243.36
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.102.231
It executes the following command to disable/stop/delete Windows components:
- sc stop WinDefend
- sc delete WinDefend
- powershell Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true
NOTES:
Regarding Windows Defender:
This malware disables Microsoft Windows Defender by deleting the registry related to Windows Defender Service. Running it after the machine has been infected will cause an error. If you wish to repair the error, you may install another version of Microsoft Windows Defender from a legitimate and proper channel.
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
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 4
Deleting Scheduled Tasks
The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below:
- Msnetc - "%Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\{malware file name}"
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
System Tools>Scheduled Tasks. - Locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
- Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
- Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the listed {Task to be run}.
- If the strings match the list above, delete the task.
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
• On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
• On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter. - In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
- In the upper-middle panel, locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
- In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the {Task to be run} string.
- If the said string is found, delete the task.
Step 5
Search and delete this file
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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%\{Random Folder Name}\{Random File Name.exe}
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\info.dat
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\systeminfo32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\FAQ
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\README.md
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\dinj
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\Dpost
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\sinj
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\importDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32_configs\mailconf
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32_configs\dpost
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\{Random File Name.exe}
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\info.dat
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\systeminfo32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\FAQ
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\README.md
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\dinj
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\Dpost
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\sinj
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\importDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32_configs\mailconf
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32_configs\dpost
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\{Random File Name.exe}
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\info.dat
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\systeminfo32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\FAQ
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\README.md
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\dinj
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\Dpost
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\injectDll32_configs\sinj
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\importDll32
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\mailsearcher32_configs\mailconf
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}\Modules\networkDll32_configs\dpost
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
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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.
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}
To delete malware/grayware/spyware folders:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the File name* input box, type:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the remaining folders:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2-3 for the remaining folders:
- %Application Data%\{Random Folder Name}
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_TRICKBOT.TIDACBL. 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.
