BACKDOOR.WIN32.FAKEMS.AA

October 12, 2018
 Analysis by: Noel Anthony Llimos
 ALIASES:

Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Agent.xxykoj (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

This Backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system.

It steals certain information from the system and/or the user.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

50,176 bytes

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

09 Oct 2018

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information

Arrival Details

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Adobe Monitor = rundll32.exe {Malware Directory}\{Malware File Name}.dll, start

Backdoor Routine

This Backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Execute Shell Code
  • Read/Write Files
  • Create Process

It connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • http://{BLOCKED}esocketgoogle.com/larva2/index.php?v=d

Information Theft

This Backdoor steals the following information:

  • Domain Name
  • Computer Name
  • Volume Serial Number
  • Language Setting
  • Hardware Information:
    • Motherboard (Model, SKU)
    • Hard Drive (Size, Model)
    • CPU (Name, Description)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.560.01

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

12 Oct 2018

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.561.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

13 Oct 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

Identify and terminate files detected as BACKDOOR.WIN32.FAKEMS.AA

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\Run
    • Adobe Monitor = "rundll32.exe {malware file path}\{malware file name}.dll,start"

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BACKDOOR.WIN32.FAKEMS.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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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