Analysis by: Francis Xavier Antazo
 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 spyware 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: 1673 bytes
File Type: BAT
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 25 Oct 2016

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 component file(s):

  • {malware file path}\adip.klc (contains all network connections)
  • {malware file path}\112.112 (contains stolen email login credentials + adip.klc)
  • {malware file path}\011.011

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
AdobeA = "%Application Data%\Adobe\Adobe Inc\AdobeRead\acro2.bat"

Other System Modifications

This spyware deletes the following files:

  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.048
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.049
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.050
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.051
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.052
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.053
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.054
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.055
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.056
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.057
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.058
  • {malware file path}\{any characters}.059
  • {malware file path}\001.001
  • {malware file path}\002.002
  • {malware file path}\003.003
  • {malware file path}\004.004
  • {malware file path}\005.005
  • {malware file path}\006.006
  • {malware file path}\007.007
  • {malware file path}\008.008
  • {malware file path}\009.009
  • {malware file path}\010.010
  • {malware file path}\011.011
  • {malware file path}\012.012

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\PublicProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\PublicProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

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

Information Theft

This spyware gathers the following data:

  • network connections

Other Details

This spyware requires the following additional components to properly run:

  • Adobeta.exe (modified ftps.exe from MoveIt Freely)
  • adbr01.exe
  • adbr02.exe (detected as HKTL_PWDUMP.GBTS)
  • AReader.exe (sleep application)
  • acro2.bat (detected as BAT_SEPAR.B)
  • 004.afq {contains commands for Adobeta.exe}

It does the following:

    • Renames the following files:
    • {malware file path}\009.009 to 003_{random characters}_{random characters}.056
    • {malware file path}\010.010 to 003_{random characters}_{random characters}.057
    • {malware file path}\011.011 to 003_{random characters}_{random characters}.058
    • {malware file path}\012.012 to 003_{random characters}_{random characters}.059

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 12.858.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 25 Oct 2016
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 12.859.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 26 Oct 2016

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\CurrentControlSet\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
    • From: EnableFirewall = "0"
      To: EnableFirewall = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\PublicProfile
    • From: EnableFirewall = "0"
      To: EnableFirewall = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • From: EnableFirewall = "0"
      To: EnableFirewall = "1"

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\PublicProfile
    • DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"

Step 6

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.
  • Adobeta.exe
  • adbr01.exe
  • adbr02.exe
  • AReader.exe
  • 004.afq
  • 003_{random characters}_{random characters}.056
  • 003_{random characters}_{random characters}.057
  • 003_{random characters}_{random characters}.058
  • 003_{random characters}_{random characters}.059

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BAT_SEPAR.B. 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 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BAT_SEPAR.B. 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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