Analysis by: Raymart Christian Yambot

ALIASES:

Win32:PWSX-gen [Trj] (AVAST)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan Spy

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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: 611,328 bytes
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 10 Jul 2023
Payload: Steals information, Drops files, Connects to URLs/IPs

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 drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\BttqxcYvYaRne.exe → Copy of itself
  • &User Temp%\tmp{Random 4 Characters}.tmp
  • &User Temp%{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}.ps1 → Deletes Afterwards
  • &User Temp%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}.psm1 → Deletes Afterwards
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\StartupProfileData-NonInteractive
  • %Application Data%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}\Chrome\Default\Cookies
  • %Application Data%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}\Firefox\Profiles\dxxbjsgn.default\cookies.sqlite

(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).. %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).)

It adds the following processes:

  • %System%\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "%Application Data%\BttqxcYvYaRne.exe"
  • %System%\schtasks.exe" /Create /TN "Updates\BttqxcYvYaRne" /XML "&User Temp%\tmp{Random 4 Characters}.tmp"

(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).)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy modifies the following file(s):

  • %System%\drivers\etc\hosts

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

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • Current Time
  • Username
  • Computer Name
  • OS Fullname
  • CPU Information
  • RAM Information
  • IP Address

  • Credentials from the following applications:
  • Browsers:
    • 360 Browser
    • 7Star
    • Amigo
    • BlackHawk
    • Brave
    • CentBrowser
    • Chedot
    • Chrome
    • Chromium
    • Citrio
    • Coccoc
    • Comodo Dragon
    • Cool Novo
    • Coowon
    • CyberFox
    • Edge Chromium
    • Elements Browser
    • Epic Privacy
    • Falkon Browswer
    • Firefox
    • Flock
    • Flock Browser
    • IceCat
    • IceDragon
    • IE/Edge
    • Iridium
    • K-Meleon
    • Kometa
    • Liebao Browser
    • Opera Stable
    • Orbitum
    • PaleMoon
    • QIP Surf
    • QQ Browser
    • Safari for Windows
    • SeaMonkey
    • Sleipnir 6
    • Sputnik
    • Torch
    • UC Browser
    • Uran
    • Vivaldi
    • WaterFox
    • Yandex

  • Email Clients
    • Becky!
    • Claws Mail
    • eM client
    • Eudora
    • Foxmail
    • IncrediMail
    • Mailbird
    • Opera Mail
    • Outlook
    • Pocomail
    • Postbox
    • The Bat!
    • Thunderbird
    • Windows Mail App

  • FTPs
    • CoreFTP
    • FileZilla
    • FlashFXP
    • FTP Commander
    • FTP Getter
    • FTP Navigator
    • SmartFTP
    • WinSCP
    • WS_FTP

  • VPNs
    • NordVPN
    • OpenVPN
    • Private Internet Access

  • Instant Messaging Applications
    • Discord
    • Psi/Psi+
    • Trillian

  • Other Applications
    • Internet Download Manager
    • Jdownloader 2.0
    • MySQL Workbench

  • Connect to the following URL to retrieve affected system's IP address:
    • https://{BLOCKED}ify.org

Stolen Information

This Trojan Spy sends the data it gathers to the following email addresses via SMTP:

  • Host: {BLOCKED}handsand.com
    Email: in{BLOCKED}handsand.com
    Username: {BLOCKED}0
    Password: {BLOCKED}&W(LN?

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 18.564.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 11 Jul 2023
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 18.565.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 12 Jul 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:

    • TROJ.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF070

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.
  • %Application Data%\BttqxcYvYaRne.exe
  • &User Temp%\tmp{Random 4 Characters}.tmp
  • &User Temp%{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}.ps1
  • &User Temp%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}.psm1
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\StartupProfileData-NonInteractive
  • %Application Data%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}\Chrome\Default\Cookies
  • %Application Data%\{8 Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}\Firefox\Profiles\dxxbjsgn.default\cookies.sqlite

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TrojanSpy.MSIL.NEGASTEAL.THGAABC. 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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