TSPY_EMOTET.TTIBBLF

 Analysis by: Augusto II Remillano

 ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Kryptik.DMUO trojan (NOD32), HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic (Kaspersky)

 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:

345,600 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Sep 2018

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 files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk\_hiddenPbk\{random filename}
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk\_hiddenPbk\{random filename}
  • %User Temp%\tmp{random}.bat

(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.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
{random}
{random} = "{hex values}"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
EnabledV8 = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnonBadCertRecving = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
EnableSPDY3_0 = "0"

Other Details

This Trojan Spy connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • https://{BLOCKED}.ru/
  • http://{BLOCKED}p.su/girls.jpg
  • http://{BLOCKED}y.su/anime.jpg

It deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.514.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

19 Sep 2018

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.515.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

20 Sep 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
    • {random}

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter
    • EnabledV8 = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • WarnonBadCertRecving = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • EnableSPDY3_0 = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\{random}\{random}
    • {random} = "{hex values}"

Step 6

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%\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk\_hiddenPbk\{random filename}
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk\_hiddenPbk\{random filename}
  • %User Temp%\tmp{random}.bat

Step 7

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