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TSPY_POSPUNK.A

June 10, 2015
 Analysis by: Pearl Charlaine Espejo
 ALIASES:

Trojan.Win32.Inject.tfgs (Kaspersky); Troj/Agent-AMOH (Sophos); W32.GenericPunkeyA.Trojan (Bkav); Trojan.Agent.LODH (Malwarebytes); Trojan.Win32.PunkeyPOS.459264[h] (ViRobot)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

This malware component is related to the Punkey point-of-sale (PoS) malware, which was uncovered in April 2015.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Spyware, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

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 logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

459,264 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Apr 2015

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information, Compromises system security

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 and executes them:

  • %AppDataLocal%\jusched\jusched.exe

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It drops the following component file(s):

  • %AppDataLocal%\jusched\Dllx64.dll - detected as TSPY_POSPUNK.A which is a component used for keylogging routine

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • explorer.exe

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
jusched = "%AppDataLocal%\jusched\jusched.exe -s"

Information Theft

This Spyware accepts the following parameters:

  • key= {RUN, SCANNING, or UPDATE}
  • version= {malware version}
  • bit= {32 or 64}
  • unkey= {stolen information}

It logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

Stolen Information

This Spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}x.tqurl.net/27b7n9m73210m7
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.103.21/h4g2v34hk

Other Details

Based on analysis of the codes, it has the following capabilities:

  • update itself
  • download arbitrary file as temp.exe
  • sleep

It deletes itself after execution.

NOTES:

It sends a GET request to the following URL before it updates, or downloads its arbitrary payload:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.103.21/h4g2v34hk/?check
  • http://{BLOCKED}x.tqurl.net/27b7n9m73210m7/?check

It scans the memory of all running processes except for the following:

  • wuauclt.exe
  • alg.exe
  • spoolsv.exe
  • lsass.exe
  • winlogon.exe
  • csrss.exe
  • smss.exe
  • System
  • explorer.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • svchost.exe

It may report the following errors to its C&C server:

  • an error occurred while installing keyboard hook
  • an error occurred while loading dll file. Error Code: {value}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.608.10

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

16 Apr 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.609.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

17 Apr 2015

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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

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\Run
    • jusched = "%AppDataLocal%\jusched\jusched.exe -s"

Step 5

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\jusched\Dllx64.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\jusched\temp.exe

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_POSPUNK.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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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