Modified by: Arvin Roi Macaraeg

ALIASES:

Trojan-Spy.Keylogger.AgentTesla(IKARUS); Backdoor.Win32.Androm.trcp(KASPERSKY)

 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 executes then deletes itself afterward.

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,426,432 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 14 Jan 2020
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, 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:

  • %Application Data%\{substring from hash of machine GUID}

(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).)

It drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{substring from hash of machine GUID}\{substring from hash of machine GUID}.lck - used for resource locking
  • %Application Data%\{substring from hash of machine GUID}\{substring from hash of machine GUID}.hdb - hash database of stolen information

(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).)

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

  • %Application Data%\{substring from hash of machine GUID}\{substring from hash of machine GUID}.exe

(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).)

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

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

  • {Hash of Machine GUID}

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • User name
  • Computer name
  • Machine GUID

It attempts to steal stored account information used in the following installed File Transfer Protocol (FTP) clients or file manager software:

  • 32BitFtp
  • 9bis.comKiTTY
  • AbleFTP
  • Automize
  • BitKinex
  • Cyberduck
  • DeluxeFTP
  • EasyFTP
  • Estsoft ALFTP
  • ExpanDrive
  • FTP Navigator
  • FTP Now
  • FTPBox
  • FTPGetter
  • FTPInfo
  • FTPShell
  • Far Manager
  • Fastream NETFile
  • FileZilla
  • FlashFXP
  • FlashPeak BlazeFtp
  • FreshWebmaster FreshFTP
  • Ghisler Total Commander
  • GoFTP
  • INSoftware NovaFTP
  • Ipswitch WS_FTP
  • JaSFtp
  • LinasFTP
  • Martin Prikryl
  • NCH Software ClassicFTP
  • NCH Software Fling
  • NetDrive
  • NetDrive 2
  • NetSarang Xftp
  • NexusFile
  • Notepad++ NppFTP
  • Odin Secure FTP Expert
  • Sherrod Computers Sherrod FTP
  • SimonTatham PuTTY
  • SmartFTP
  • Staff-FTP
  • Steed
  • UltraFXP
  • VanDyke SecureFX
  • WinFTP
  • oZone3D MyFTP

It attempts to get stored information such as user names, passwords, and hostnames from the following browsers:

  • 360 Browser
  • 8pecxstudios Cyberfox
  • Apple Safari
  • Baidu Spark
  • Catalina Group Citrio
  • Chromium
  • Coc Coc Browser
  • Comodo Chromodo
  • Comodo Dragon
  • Comodo IceDragon
  • Coowon
  • Epic Privacy Browser
  • Flock
  • Google Chrome
  • Google Chrome SxS
  • Internet Explorer
  • K-Meleon
  • Lunascape 6
  • MapleStudio ChromePlus
  • Moonchild Productions Pale Moon
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Mozilla SeaMonkey
  • Mustang Browser
  • NETGATE Technologies BlackHawk
  • Nichrome
  • Opera Next
  • Opera Stable
  • QtWeb.NET QtWeb Internet Browser
  • QupZilla
  • RockMelt
  • Sleipnir Browser
  • Superbird
  • Titan Browser
  • Torch
  • Vivaldi
  • Yandex Browser

It attempts to steal stored email credentials from the following:

  • FossaMail
  • Foxmail
  • IncrediMail
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Postbox
  • Thunderbird
  • yMail2

Stolen Information

This Trojan Spy sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.150.73/~giftioz/.hokoxi/fre.php

Other Details

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.620.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 14 Jan 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.621.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 15 Jan 2020

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

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.
  • %Application Data%\{substring from hash of machine GUID}\{substring from hash of machine GUID}.lck
  • %Application Data%\{substring from hash of machine GUID}\{substring from hash of machine GUID}.hdb
  • %Application Data%\{substring from hash of machine GUID}\{substring from hash of machine GUID}.exe

Step 5

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.
  • %Application Data%\{substring from hash of machine GUID}

Step 6

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