PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Backdoor 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: 169,472 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 05 Apr 2017

Arrival Details

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

Other System Modifications

This Backdoor adds the following registry keys:

hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\
esent\process\{malware file name}

hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\
esent\process\{malware file name}\
debug

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryCount = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 10.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
TypesSupported = "7"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 7.)

Other Details

This Backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://api.{BLOCKED}y.org
  • {BLOCKED}117.228
  • {BLOCKED}8.174.64

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.8

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

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_local_machine\software\microsoft\esent\process
    • {malware file name}
  • In hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\esent\process\{malware file name}
    • debug

Step 3

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
    • From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
      To: EventMessageFile = ""{random values}""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
    • From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
      To: CategoryMessageFile = ""{random values}""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
    • From: CategoryCount = "1"
      To: CategoryCount = ""10""
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
    • From: TypesSupported = "7"
      To: TypesSupported = ""7""

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_HANCITOR.YYSWL. 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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