TrojanSpy.PS1.NEGASTEAL.AA

 Analysis by: Joshua Paul Ignacio

 ALIASES:

Trojan-Dropper.PowerShell.Agent (IKARUS)

 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:

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:

1,952,078 bytes

File Type:

PS1

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Aug 2019

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 component file(s):

  • %Application Data%\SysResetErr\dxgiadaptercache.bat → detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.NEGASTEAL.DOCIA
  • %Public%\pkHpumNygD.vbs → executes dxgiadaptercache.bat
  • %Application Data%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}.zip → contains the Cookies of Chrome and Firefox
  • %Application Data%\{10 Random Characters}.jpeg → saves a snapshot of the user's screen every 20 mins

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Public%\{3-5 Random Characters}.exe → detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.NEGASTEAL.DOCIA

(Note: %Public% is the folder that serves as a repository of files or folders common to all users, which is usually C:\Users\Public in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}

(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(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegAsm.exe

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
pkHpumNygD = %Public%\pkHpumNygD.vbs

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • User Name
  • Computer Name
  • IP Address
  • OS Name
  • OS Version Platform
  • OS Version
  • Processor Name
  • Amount of Physical Memory
  • Video Card Name
  • Video Card Memory
  • Screenshots
  • Username and Password from the following applications:
    • 360 Browser
    • 360Chrome
    • 7Star
    • Amigo
    • BlackHawk
    • Brave
    • CentBrowser
    • Chedot
    • Chrome
    • Chrome Plus
    • Chromium
    • Citrio
    • Coccoc
    • Comodo Dragon
    • Cool Novo
    • Coowon
    • CyberFox
    • Elements Browser
    • Epic Privacy
    • Flock
    • Foxmail
    • IceCat
    • IceDragon
    • IncrediMail
    • Internet Download Manager
    • Internet Explorer
    • Ipswitch
    • Iridium
    • jDownloader
    • KMeleon
    • Kometa
    • Liebao Browser
    • Mozilla
    • Opera Browser
    • Opera Mail
    • Opera Stable
    • Orbitum
    • Outlook
    • PaleMoon
    • Pocomail
    • Postbox
    • QIP Surf
    • QQ Browser
    • Safari
    • Sea Monkey
    • Smart FTP
    • Sleipnir 5
    • Sleipnir 6
    • Sputnik
    • SRWare Iron
    • Tencent
    • The Bat!
    • Thunderbird
    • Torch
    • UCBrowser
    • Uran
    • Vitalwerks
    • Vivaldi
    • Waterfox
    • WinSCP 2
    • WS_FTP
    • Yandex

Stolen Information

This Trojan Spy sends the data it gathers to the following email addresses via SMTP:

  • vip@{BLOCKED}africa.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.598.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

06 Aug 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.599.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

07 Aug 2019

Step 1

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 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 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
    • pkHpumNygD = "%Public%\pkHpumNygD.vbs"

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
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%\SysResetErr\dxgiadaptercache.bat
  • %Public%\{3-5 Random Characters}.exe
  • %Public%\pkHpumNygD.vbs
  • %Application Data%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}.zip
  • %Application Data%\{10 Random Characters}.jpeg

Step 6

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.
  • %Application Data%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.PS1.NEGASTEAL.AA. 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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