TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
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
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:
- If executed with administrator rights:
- %System%\{Random Characters}\{Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}
- If executed without administrator rights:
- %AppDataLocal%\{Random Characters}\{Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %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:
- If executed with administrator rights:
- %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%System%\{Random Characters}\{Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}"
- If executed without administrator rights:
- %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%AppDataLocal%\{Random Characters}\{Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}"
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %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 creates the following folders:
- If executed with administrator rights:
- %System%\{Random Characters}
- If executed without administrator rights:
- %AppDataLocal%\{Random Characters}
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %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).)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan Spy adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\{File name of dropped file}
ImagePath = %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%System%\{random}\{random characters}.{3 random characters}" → If executed with administrator rights
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{File name of dropped file} = %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%AppDataLocal%\{random}\{random characters}.{3 random characters}" → If executed without administrator rights
Other Details
This Trojan Spy connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- {URLs}
SOLUTION
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
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 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\{File name of dropped file}
- ImagePath = %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%System%\{random}\{random characters}.{3 random characters}"
- ImagePath = %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%System%\{random}\{random characters}.{3 random characters}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {File name of dropped file} = %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%AppDataLocal%\{random}\{random characters}.{3 random characters}"
- {File name of dropped file} = %System%\regsvr32.exe /s "%AppDataLocal%\{random}\{random characters}.{3 random characters}"
Step 5
Search and delete this file
- %System%\{Random Characters}\{Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}
- %AppDataLocal%\{Random Characters}\{Random Characters}.{3 Random Characters}
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %System%\{Random Characters}
- %AppDataLocal%\{Random Characters}
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET. 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.
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