Analysis by: Arvin Roi Macaraeg
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan Spy

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 208,384 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 22 Jan 2019
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files, Deletes files

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 copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe - if run with admin privileges
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\{string1}{string2}.exe - if run without admin privileges
    {string1} and {string2} are randomly chosen from the following strings:
    • not
    • ripple
    • svcs
    • serv
    • wab
    • shader
    • single
    • without
    • wcs
    • define
    • eap
    • culture
    • slide
    • zip
    • tmpl
    • mini
    • polic
    • panes
    • earcon
    • menus
    • detect
    • form
    • uuidgen
    • pnp
    • admin
    • tuip
    • avatar
    • started
    • dasmrc
    • alaska
    • guids
    • wfp
    • adam
    • wgx
    • lime
    • indexer
    • repl
    • dev
    • mapi
    • resw
    • daf
    • diag
    • iss
    • vsc
    • turned
    • neutral
    • sat
    • source
    • enroll
    • mfidl
    • idl
    • based
    • right
    • cbs
    • radar
    • avg
    • wordpad
    • metagen
    • mouse
    • iprop
    • mdmmcd
    • jersey
    • thunk
    • subs

(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • PE{hash of full file path}
  • Global\M{Volume serial number}
  • Global\I{Volume serial number}

Autostart Technique

This Trojan Spy registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{string1}{string2}
Type = "16"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{string1}{string2}
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{string1}{string2}
ErrorControl = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{string1}{string2}
ImagePath = "%System%\{string1}{string2}.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{string1}{string2}
DisplayName = "{string1}{string2}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{string1}{string2}
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

It adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{string1}{string2} = "%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\{string1}{string2}.exe"

It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\{string1}{string2}

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • Machine Name
  • System Locale
  • OS Version
  • Running Processes

Other Details

This Trojan Spy connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.113.60:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.238.62:22/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.115.228:990/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.25.133:20/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.61.242:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.153.215:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.62.24:53/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.229.35:465/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.46.60:50000/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.157.252:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.248.48:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.76.245:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.130.145:20/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.18.56:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.141.120:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.79:22/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.107.154:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.139.199:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.117.181:8443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.118.27:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.236.157:8090/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.117.247:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.78.78/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.111.116/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.202.129:22/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.79.48:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.135.76:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.30.160/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}128.163:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.31.206:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.254.93:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.231.60:990/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.197.123:53/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.5.200:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.213.173:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.199.71:20/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.120.62/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.90.90:7080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.204.143:8443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.185.11:995/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.208.183:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.148.222:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216.14:990/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.33.82:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.203.51:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.120.221/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}104.191.159/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}189.109.123:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.72:8080/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.25.180:443/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.53.71/
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.63:443/

It does the following:

  • Deletes the following outdated copy of itself:
    • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe:
    • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\{string1}{string2}.exe Where {string1 }and {string2} can be any of the following:
      • steps
      • intel
      • cyan
      • sbs
      • emit
      • graph
      • work
      • fix
      • restore
      • select
      • bml
      • iprop
      • reports
      • balloon
      • hop
      • symbol
      • mddefw
      • cyrl
      • map
      • shims
      • iface
      • portto
      • ras
      • eula
      • pdh
      • sync
      • etl
      • wpc
      • dsm
      • cat
      • archive
      • pass
      • did
      • rule
      • compile
      • bundle
      • merged
      • keyand
      • android
      • compare
      • stg
      • mnu
      • lanes
      • dir
      • dmi
      • lime
      • route
      • tap
      • cch
      • msra
      • running
      • boost
      • jit
      • diala
      • fetch
      • tabbtn
      • sendand
      • vert
      • imp
      • the
      • clear
      • role
      • drv
      • readme
  • It will create a startup service if it has admin privileges, otherwise it will only create an autorun entry in the registry.
  • It is capable of downloading different modules from the C&C server.

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.768.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 23 Jan 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.769.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 24 Jan 2019

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 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

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Delete this registry key

[ 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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

 
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services
    • {string1}{string2}

Step 5

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {string1}{string2} = "%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\{string1}{string2}.exe"

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.THOABCAI. 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 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.THOABCAI. 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:


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.