Modified by: Earle Maui Earnshaw
ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Trickbot (Microsoft); Trojan-Banker.Win32.Emotet.dmie (Kaspersky); Troj/Emotet-BGK (Sophos)

 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

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.

It connects to a website to send and receive information.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 483,328 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 19 Sep 2019
Payload: 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 copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe → if run with admin privileges
    %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2}\Windows\{string1}{string2}.exe → if run without admin privileges
    {string1} and {string2} are randomly chosen from the following strings:
    • chunk
    • counter
    • drawa
    • isve
    • two
    • next
    • mapi
    • rtapi
    • nlsdl
    • defs
    • tenant
    • rstrt
    • window
    • machine
    • mira
    • system
    • stream
    • cursor
    • structs
    • history
    • watched
    • hash
    • report
    • program
    • durable
    • offc
    • rsat
    • folders
    • shell
    • yellow
    • sounds
    • adjust
    • toner
    • tlb
    • sorted
    • loop
    • post
    • txt
    • icons
    • intel
    • inset
    • move
    • reports
    • trc
    • based
    • wim
    • lumber
    • violet
    • dom
    • easy
    • cvt
    • center
    • even
    • readand
    • xinput
    • mem
    • cues
    • layer
    • tools
    • wfd
    • running
    • mail
    • gesture
    • misc

(Note: %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:

  • {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe
  • {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe --{8 random Characters}
  • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe --{8 random Character}
  • %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2} --{8 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 mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • 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}
ImagePath = %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{string1}{string2}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{string1}{string2}
ErrorControl = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{string1}{string2}
DisplayName = {string1}{string2}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{string1}{string2}
ObjectName = LocalSystem

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{string1}{string2}
Type = 16

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{string1}{string2}
Start = 2

Backdoor Routine

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

  • the IP address was randomly generated, these are some of the few:
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.64.197:443/{string/s}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.146.47:443/{string/s} → CnC that the malware can connect successfuly
    Strings are randomly chosen from the following:
    • teapot
    • pnp
    • tpt
    • splash
    • site
    • codec
    • health
    • balloon
    • cab
    • odbc
    • badge
    • dma
    • psec
    • cookies
    • iplk
    • devices
    • enable
    • mult
    • prov
    • vermont
    • attrib
    • schema
    • iab
    • chunk
    • publish
    • prep
    • srvc
    • sess
    • ringin
    • nsip
    • stubs
    • img
    • add
    • xian
    • jit
    • free
    • pdf
    • loadan
    • arizona
    • tlb
    • forced
    • results
    • symbols
    • report
    • guids
    • taskbar
    • child
    • cone
    • glitch
    • entries
    • between
    • bml
    • usbccid
    • sym
    • enabled
    • merge
    • window
    • scripts
    • raster
    • acquire
    • json
    • rtm
    • walk
    • ban

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

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

Other Details

This Trojan Spy does the following:

  • It accepts the following arguments to perform its routine:
    • {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe --{8 Random Characters} → Used for dropping the copy to %System% or %AppDataLocal%
    • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe --{8 Random Characters} → When run as admin needed arguments to perform its routine
    • %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe --{8 Random Characters} → When not run as admin needed arguments to perform its routine
  • It will create a startup service if it has admin privileges, otherwise it will not create an autostart mechanism.
  • Deletes the following outdated copy of itself:
    • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe
    • %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe
    Where {string1 }and {string2} can be any of the following:
    • bml
    • vault
    • apo
    • ttls
    • winsat
    • cim
    • types
    • depth
    • idaho
    • example
    • photos
    • gateway
    • themes
    • khmer
    • lite
    • rpl
    • media
    • tran
    • mondeu
    • plan
    • power
    • sans
    • subs
    • namesof
    • sine
    • events
    • enums
    • tier
    • icon
    • nirmala
    • cred
    • was
    • ipsm
    • sms
    • flows
    • code
    • sound
    • dlls
    • click
    • lanes
    • vmbus
    • blb
    • setthe
    • tasks
    • item
    • als
    • cluster
    • prof
    • psec
    • cofire
    • ram
    • phong
    • vector
    • notices
    • cull
    • netsh
    • wan
    • cpl
    • shims
    • convert
    • chx
    • sens
    • ihun
    • priv

(Note: %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 deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.372.07
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 17 Sep 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.373.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 18 Sep 2019

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Identify and terminate files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.TIABOFCY

[ 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 5

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.

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

Step 6

Search and delete these files

[ 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.
  • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe

Step 7

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