ALIASES:

TrojanDownloader:O97M/Emotet.ARJ!MTB (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 178,685 bytes
File Type: DOCX
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 29 Jan 2020

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 adds the following processes:

  • %System%\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\mscorsvw.exe
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceAndNoImpersonation
  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\mscorsvw.exe
  • %System%\sppsvc.exe
  • "%System Root%\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe"

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following file(s):

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\Word12.pip

(Note: %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 registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Wow6432Node\Interface\{BEF6E003-A874-101A-8BBA-00AA00300CAB}
(Default) = ""

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\Word12.pip
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms\WINWORD.box
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Media Player\CurrentDatabase_372.wmdb
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\drmstore.hds
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\VB12.pip
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\v3ks.sec
  • {malware file path and name}

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

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 Trojan.W97M.EMOTET.TIOIBEJH

[ 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\Wow6432Node\Interface\{BEF6E003-A874-101A-8BBA-00AA00300CAB}
    • (Default) = ""

Step 4

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\Word12.pip
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms\WINWORD.box
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Media Player\CurrentDatabase_372.wmdb
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\drmstore.hds
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\VB12.pip
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\v3ks.sec
  • {malware file path and name}

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.
  • %Windows%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.W97M.EMOTET.TIOIBEJH. 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 7

Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

    • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\Word12.pip


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