PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Coinminer

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Coinminer 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: 510,976 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Feb 2020

Arrival Details

This Coinminer 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 Coinminer adds the following processes:

  • %System%\require.exe fhfsldlxt

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

This Coinminer registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\fhfsldlxt
ImagePath = "%System%\require.exe fhfsldlxt"

Other System Modifications

This Coinminer deletes the following files:

  • {malware file path and name}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
SHTinfo
staticpeer = "{random characters}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\fhfsldlxt
DisplayName = "Snapshot Provider"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\fhfsldlxt
Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850

Step 1

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 2

Identify and terminate files detected as Coinminer.Win64.MALXMR.TIAOODDF

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

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\SOFTWARE\Classes\SHTinfo
    • staticpeer = "{random characters}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\fhfsldlxt
    • DisplayName = "Snapshot Provider"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\fhfsldlxt
    • Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Coinminer.Win64.MALXMR.TIAOODDF. 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:

Step 5

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • {malware file path and name}


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