TSPY_DYRE.YYSNX

 Analysis by: David John Agni

 ALIASES:

Trojan.Upatre.GJ (BitDefender), TrojanDownloader:Win32/Upatre.CB (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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 deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

474628 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

09 Sep 2015

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:

  • %AppDataLocal%\{random filename}.exe (for Windows Vista and above)
  • %Windows%\{random filename}.exe (for Windows XP and below)

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This spyware modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Lsa
LimitBlankPasswordUse = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Terminal Server
fDenyTSConnections = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Terminal Server
fSingleSessionPerUser = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\MpsSvc
DeleteFlag = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\WinDefend
DeleteFlag = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\wscsvc
DeleteFlag = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\MpsSvc
Start = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\WinDefend
Start = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\wscsvc
Start = 4

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %System%\config\systemprofile\Application Data\{random filename 2} (for Windows XP and below)
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random filename 2} (for Windows Vista and above)

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.)

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • google.com
  • microsoft.com

It connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • http://icanhazip.com/

It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.147.103:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.220.8:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.157.202:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.157.210:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.93.197:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.226.85:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.63.98:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.73.130:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.250.245:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.48.147:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.49.139:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.49.162:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.76.24:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.166.94:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.18.187:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.48.79:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.50.124:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.201.9:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.153.202:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.91.90:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.64.35:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.142.66:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.194.101:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.154.180:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.190.84:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.105.117:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.106.76:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.34.245:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.171.216:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.58.42:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.93:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.135.106:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.179.197:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.81.96:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.165.182:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.202.99:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.202.99:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.182.74:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.213.198:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.230.226:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.33.225:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.147.103:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.156.170:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.128.203:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.57.164:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.203.23:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.201.146:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.71.149:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.191.170:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.51.115:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.75.75:4443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.254.225:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.102.70:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.9.66:4443

It deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

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

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\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Lsa
    • From: LimitBlankPasswordUse = "0"
      To: LimitBlankPasswordUse = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Terminal Server
    • From: fDenyTSConnections = "0"
      To: fDenyTSConnections = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Terminal Server
    • From: fSingleSessionPerUser = "0"
      To: fSingleSessionPerUser = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\MpsSvc
    • From: DeleteFlag = "1"
      To: DeleteFlag = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WinDefend
    • From: DeleteFlag = "1"
      To: DeleteFlag = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\wscsvc
    • From: DeleteFlag = "1"
      To: DeleteFlag = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\MpsSvc
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WinDefend
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = 2
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\wscsvc
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = 2

Step 5

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • %System%\config\systemprofile\Application Data\{random filename 2} (for Windows XP and below)
  • %AppDataLocal%\{random filename 2} (for Windows Vista and above)

Step 6

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

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_DYRE.YYSNX. 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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