Modified by: Mc Justine De Guzman
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan Spy

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

This Trojan Spy 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 311,296 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 01 Apr 2020
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Collects system information, Steals information, Logs keystrokes

Arrival Details

This Trojan Spy 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 Spy adds the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Microsoft DN1
  • %AppdataLocal%\Microsoft Vision

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • cmd.exe
  • explorer.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{Random characters} = {Malware Path}

It drops the following file(s) in the Startup Items folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %User Startup%\Adobe_Process.exe.lnk
  • %User Startup%\Adobe_Process.exe.exe
    • (If ESET NOD32 Antivirus is installed)

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy deletes the following files:

  • {malware name}:Zone Identifier

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\
shell\open\command

HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\
shell\open\command
DelegateExecute =

It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server = 10

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
MaxConnectionsPerServer = 10

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\MediaResources

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\MediaResources\msvideo

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan Spy executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Delete file
  • Disconnect reverse connection
  • Download and execute the program
  • Enable Remote Desktop Protocol
  • Enumerate disk information
  • Enumerate files
  • Enumerate process information
  • Establish a reverse connection
  • Execute file
  • Get password from browser
  • Keylogger (offline)
  • Keylogger (online)
  • Kill process
  • Read file
  • Read log
  • Remote shell execution
  • Socket settings
  • Turn on the camera
  • Uninstall Trojan
  • Upload files

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

  • phantom101.{BLOCKED}s.org

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Dropping Routine

This Trojan Spy drops the following file(s), which it uses for its keylogging routine:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft Vision\{Day}-{Month}-{Year}_{Hour}.{Minute}.{Second}

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • Passwords from the following:
    • Foxmail
    • Google Chrome
    • Internet Explorer
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Thunderbird

Other Details

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
GASNQ2Z4LW

HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder

HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\
shell

HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\
shell\open

HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\
shell\open\command

It does the following:

  • It can load malicious programs with higher privileges via
    • pkgmgr.exe
    • sdclt.exe (for Windows 10)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.778.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 01 Apr 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.779.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 02 Apr 2020

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     
    • Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF034

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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\Run
    • {Random characters} = {malware path}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server = 10
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • MaxConnectionsPerServer = 10
  • In HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\shell\open\command
    • = {malware path}
  • In HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\shell\open\command
    • DelegateExecute = ""

Step 6

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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\GASNQ2Z4LW

  • In HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\shell\open\command

  • In HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\shell\open

  • In HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder\shell

  • In HKEY_USERS\{SID}_CLASSES\Folder

Step 7

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.
  • %User Startup%\Adobe_Process.exe.lnk
  • %User Startup%\Adobe_Process.exe.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft Vision\{Day}-{Month}-{Year}_{Hour}.{Minute}.{Second}

Step 8

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Program Files%\Microsoft DN1
  • %AppdataLocal%\Microsoft Vision

Step 9

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.AVERMARIA.THDOABO. 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 10

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.AVERMARIA.THDOABO. 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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