Analysis by: Arvin Roi Macaraeg
ALIASES:

Trojan-Banker.Win32.Emotet.ehml(KASPERSKY); Trojan:Win32/Emotet!rfn(MICROSOFT);

 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: 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 certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 237,682 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Dec 2019
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Deletes itself, Drops 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 adds the following folders:

  • %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2} → if run without admin privileges

(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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe → if run with admin privileges
  • %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe → if run without admin privileges
    where {string1} and {string2} can be any of the following strings:
    • texas
    • func
    • deploy
    • run
    • leel
    • stuck
    • def
    • print
    • hal
    • monthly
    • pdf
    • char
    • netsh
    • memo
    • trns
    • rds
    • maker
    • more
    • textto
    • chunker
    • mailbox
    • compon
    • shades
    • scan
    • non
    • wsat
    • speed
    • publish
    • manual
    • hant
    • inbox
    • malert
    • zap
    • fill
    • angle
    • wrap
    • boost
    • cors
    • iplk
    • sitka
    • wow
    • prints
    • acquire
    • wiz
    • smo
    • footer
    • attrib
    • group
    • appid
    • xcl
    • sensor
    • methods
    • ipmi
    • raw
    • title
    • nic
    • ias
    • lua
    • dispid
    • special
    • serial
    • wsa
    • tcg
    • msp

(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:

  • {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe --{8 Random Characters}
  • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe → if run with admin privileges
  • %System%\{string1}{string2}.exe --{8 Random Characters} → if run with admin privileges
  • %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe → if run without admin privileges
  • %AppDataLocal%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe --{8 Random Characters} → if run without admin privileges

(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\I{Volume Serial Number}
  • Global\M{Volume Serial Number}
  • Global\E{Volume Serial Name}

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

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%\{string1}{string2}\{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}
Type = 16

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

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 = {string1}{string2}

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • Computer Name
  • Process SessionId
  • OS Version
  • Running Processes
  • File CRC
  • Processor Architecture

Other Details

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

    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.131.88:80\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.11.150:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.44.150:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.246.93:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.175.211:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.125:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.95.230:443\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.140.110:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.247.220:80\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.153.252:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.197.94:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.25.128:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.156.155:443\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.10.37:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.105.223:7080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.182.217:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.153.86:990\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.203.26:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.200.130:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.71.63:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.51.222:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.194.138:443\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.213.158:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.193.14:80\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.132.213:8090\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.238.69:465\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.241.230:80\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.217.49:80\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.67.134:8090\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.215.53:22\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.207.11:443\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.44.20:21\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.135.159:21\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.209.110:7080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.220.155:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.255.77:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.213.192:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.148.138:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.168.52:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.71.72:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.79:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.182.191:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.67.62:7080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.240.91:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.194.134:443\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.2.199:443\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.49.124:443\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.131.87:80\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.74.210:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.86.205:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.164.174:80\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.187.192:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.154.17:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.179.64:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.219.147:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.163.139:21\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.245.190:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.59.244:20\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.136.232:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.139.101:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.19.21:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.228.193:8090\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.215.66:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216.44:8080\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.228.255:80\{String}
    • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.43.213:8080\{String}
  • where {string} can be one or a combination of any of the following strings, separated by "/":
    • 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

It does the following:

  • It deletes the outdated copy of itself having the following strings on its filename:
    • delete
    • band
    • ipsm
    • sspi
    • div
    • rdp
    • whole
    • dir
    • privacy
    • make
    • watched
    • pano
    • which
    • goto
    • wnd
    • rep
    • ceip
    • date
    • render
    • bag
    • vsc
    • vsa
    • mouse
    • counter
    • tech
    • wheel
    • ranker
    • iterate
    • store
    • sum
    • package
    • timeout
    • idebug
    • junos
    • site
    • trc
    • url
    • coffee
    • poller
    • remote
    • gapa
    • changes
    • duck
    • ppl
    • tlogcm
    • tlb
    • cube
    • hexa
    • vol
    • paint
    • star
    • nav
    • grp
    • avatar
    • center
    • cipher
    • brm
    • resize
    • markup
    • pausea
    • loan
    • emboss
    • vsperf
    • teal
  • It creates a startup service if it has admin privileges, otherwise it only creates an autorun entry in the registry.
  • It creates the following Services if run as admin:
    • Service Name: {string 1}{string 2}
      Image path: %System%\{string 1}{string 2}

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

It deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.538.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 04 Dec 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.539.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 05 Dec 2019

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.XXPE50FFF032P0005

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe"

Step 6

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.

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

Step 7

Disable this malware service

[ Learn More ]
  •  
    • Service name:{string 1}{string 2}
    • Image path: %System%\{string 1}{string 2}

Step 8

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 9

Search and delete this folder

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

Step 10

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