Analysis by: Joshua Paul Ignacio
ALIASES:

Trojan-Downloader.VBA.Emotet, Trojan-Downloader.VBA.Emotet (IKARUS)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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: 64,268 bytes
File Type: DOC
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 23 Jan 2020
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads 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 adds the following processes:

  • Powershell -w hidden -en {Base-64 Encoded Command}

Download Routine

This Trojan connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}russellphotography.com/wp-admin/3i1r89cqj-unjx6-9917689/
  • http://{BLOCKED}ink.com/wp-content/vtor52z-d5yrowoshn-84747/
  • http://{BLOCKED}dya.com/yeni/gsNkHo/
  • http://{BLOCKED}carmax.com/wp-includes/vfCzHT/
  • http://{BLOCKED}wnschoolcalabar.com/css/on6681g3k-ivb0jr9-83/

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Profile%\756.exe

(Note: %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 Details

This Trojan does the following:

  • The document contains the following message details luring users to enable macro content:

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

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.676.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 10 Feb 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.677.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 11 Feb 2020

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.XXVBAF01FF006

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 this file

[ 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%\756.exe

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.W97M.POWLOAD.TIOIBEJP. 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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