Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio
ALIASES:

MonitoringTool:Win32/SniperSpy(Microsoft), Trojan-Spy.Win32.KeyLogger(Sunbelt), a variant of Win32/RiskWare.SniperSpy.C application(Eset), Riskware/RiskWare_SniperSpy(Fortinet),

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Hacking Tool

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This hacking tool arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites. It arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages. It may be manually installed by a user.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,103,460 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Mar 2014

Arrival Details

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

It arrives as a component bundled with malware/grayware packages.

It may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This hacking tool drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{Computer name}\sys_E_i.bin
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{Computer name}\system.zip - contains configuration file

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops and executes the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\SSA\envtask.exe - also detected as HKTL_SPYSNIPER

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\SSA
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{Computer name}

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
sysclean = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\SSA\envtask.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
sysclean = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\SSA\envtask.exe"

Download Routine

This hacking tool connects to the following URL(s) to download its component file(s):

  • www.{BLOCKED}viewer.com/webapi/download_UI.php

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\SSA\ui.exe

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Information Theft

This hacking tool gathers the following data:

  • Computer name
  • MAC Address
  • Running processes
  • Instant messaging client installed

Stolen Information

This hacking tool saves the stolen information in the following file:

  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{Computer name}\SetX.bin

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.)

It sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • www.{BLOCKED}viewer.com/webapi/uploadxml.php

NOTES:
This hacking tool can perform the following behavior:

  • Monitors websites visited
  • Monitors applications used
  • Monitors clipboard activity
  • Monitors instant messengers
  • Monitors PC activity
  • Logs Keystrokes
  • Capture screenshots
  • Browse file system
  • Download files
  • View/Terminate processes
  • View browser history

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
SSAPI PATTERN File: 1.493.00
SSAPI PATTERN Date: 20 Mar 2014

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as HKTL_SPYSNIPER

Step 3

Terminate a process file/s detected as HKTL_SPYSNIPER

[ Learn More ]

*Note: If the detected file/s is/are not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.

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
    • sysclean = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\SSA\envtask.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • sysclean = "%All Users Profile%\Application Data\SSA\envtask.exe"

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\SSA
  • %All Users Profile%\Application Data\{Computer name}

Step 6

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