➔
search
✕

TSPY_EMOTET.FFPT

December 03, 2014
 Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio
 ALIASES:

VirTool:Win32/CeeInject.gen!KK(Microsoft), Downloader.Ponik(Norton), Win32/Emotet.AB trojan(Eset)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware


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

It is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

159,744 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

02 Dec 2014

Payload:

Steals information

Arrival Details

This spyware 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 spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\Identities\{random 8 characters}.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It is injected into all running processes to remain memory resident.

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • ci{process ID of injected explorer.exe in hex}
  • cm{process ID of injected explorer.exe in hex}
  • rm{random}

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random 8 characters}.exe = "%Application Data%\{random 8 characters}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
{random}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
{random}\Settings

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape\
5.0\{random}\{random}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\
{random}\Recent File List HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\
Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\{random}\Settings

It adds the following registry entries:

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

Information Theft

This spyware gathers the following data:

  • Computer name
  • Country
  • Volume information
  • OS Version

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.86.207:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.1.22:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.192:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.144:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.59.191:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.213.92:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.231.167:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.59.161:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.249.53:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.170.164:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.169.146:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.192:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.54.24:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.144:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.35:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.186:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.180:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.220.50:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.110.43:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.17.185:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.199.119:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.214:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.52:8080/{random}/{random}/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.111.17:8080/{random}/{random}/

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

NOTES:

This spyware accesses the sites to post gathered information and download arbitrary files to be executed.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.314.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

02 Dec 2014

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.315.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

03 Dec 2014

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
    • Local AppWizard-Generated Applications
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape\5.0\{random}
    • {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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • GlobalUserOffline = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random 8 characters}.exe = "%Application Data%\{random 8 characters}.exe"

Step 6

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.