Trojan.JS.ASTAROTH.A

September 09, 2019
 Modified by: Jay Bradley Nebre
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

This Trojan 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:

39,610 bytes

File Type:

JS

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

06 Sep 2019

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 adds the following processes:

  • "%System%\cscript.exe" "{Malware Path}\{Malware Name}.js" uac
  • "%System%\netsh.exe" advfirewall firewall add rule name=Diebold_unins000 dir=out action=allow program="C:\Program Files\Diebold\Warsaw\unins000.exe";
  • "%System%\netsh.exe" advfirewall firewall add rule name=Diebold_unins002 dir=out action=allow program="C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswRunDll.exe";
  • "%System%\netsh.exe" advfirewall firewall add rule name=Diebold_unins000 dir=out action=allow program="C:\Program Files\Diebold\Warsaw\unins000.exe";
  • "%System%\netsh.exe" advfirewall firewall add rule name=Diebold_unins002 dir=out action=allow program="C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswRunDll.exe";
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" /c sc config wsddntf start= disabled && net stop wsddntf;
  • "%System%\cmd.exe" /c sc config WinDefend start=disabled && net stop WinDefend;

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
EnableLUA = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender
DisableAntiSpyware = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableBehaviorMonitoring = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableOnAccessProtection = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SYSTEM\
CurrentControlSet\services\WinDefend
DisableAntiSpyware = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
PromptOnSecureDesktop = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Download
CheckExeSignatures = no

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Download
RunInvalidSignatures = 00000001

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = 00000001

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Security Center
UpdatesDisableNotify = 00000001

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.346.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

05 Sep 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.347.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

06 Sep 2019

Step 1

Trend Micro products with the XGen technology detect this malware as

[ Learn More ]
Downloader.JS.TRX.XXJSE9EFF011

Step 2

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 3

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 4

Identify and terminate files detected as Trojan.JS.ASTAROTH.A

[ 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 5

Restore this modified 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\Policies\System
    • EnableLUA = {default value}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
    • DisableAntiSpyware = {default value}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableBehaviorMonitoring = {default value}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableOnAccessProtection = {default value}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable = {default value}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\WinDefend
    • DisableAntiSpyware = {default value}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    • PromptOnSecureDesktop = {default value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download
    • CheckExeSignatures = {default value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download
    • RunInvalidSignatures = {default value}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Security
    • CenterAntiVirusDisableNotify = {default value}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Security
    • CenterUpdatesDisableNotify = {default value}

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.JS.ASTAROTH.A. 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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