PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan Spy

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan Spy 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: 439,808 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 May 2020

Arrival Details

This Trojan Spy 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 Spy adds the following processes:

  • schtasks.exe /Create /TN "Updates\Sdrgasg" /XML "%User Temp%\tmp5C23.tmp"
  • {malware file path and name} "{path}"
  • "schtasks.exe" /create /f /tn "DSL Subsystem" /xml "%User Temp%\tmp6FD2.tmp"
  • "schtasks.exe" /create /f /tn "DSL Subsystem Task" /xml "%User Temp%\tmp7723.tmp"

(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).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\Logs
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\Logs\{username}
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333
  • %Program Files%\DSL Subsystem

(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).. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy deletes the following files:

  • %Windows%\Tasks\DSL Subsystem Task.job
  • {malware file path and name}:Zone.Identifier
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\DSL Subsystem\dslss.exe
  • %Windows%\Tasks\DSL Subsystem.job

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows 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).)

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
DSL Subsystem = "%Program Files%\DSL Subsystem\dslss.exe"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan Spy drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\settings.bin
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\task.dat
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\run.dat
  • %Program Files%\DSL Subsystem\dslss.exe
  • %Application Data%\Sdrgasg.exe

(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).. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 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 TrojanSpy.MSIL.HAWKEYE.DYSGUQ

[ 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\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • DSL Subsystem = "%Program Files%\DSL Subsystem\dslss.exe"

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%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\settings.bin
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\task.dat
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\run.dat
  • %Program Files%\DSL Subsystem\dslss.exe
  • %Application Data%\Sdrgasg.exe

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.
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\Logs
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\Logs\{username}
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333
  • %Program Files%\DSL Subsystem

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TrojanSpy.MSIL.HAWKEYE.DYSGUQ. 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 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\DSL Subsystem Task.job
  • {malware file path and name}:Zone.Identifier
  • %Application Data%\0EFADD19-2A94-41FB-8931-F2BBC5D61333\DSL Subsystem\dslss.exe
  • %Windows%\Tasks\DSL Subsystem.job


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