Analysis by: Patrick Noel Collado
ALIASES:

Spyware:Win32/Socelars.G!MTB [non_writable_container] (Microsoft), HEUR:Trojan-PSW.Win32.Disbuk.gen(Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 1,920,222 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 16 Jan 2020
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information

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:

  • %Malware Path%\pdfreader2019\unins000.exe
  • %Malware Path%\pdfreader2019\unins000.dat

It drops and executes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\{Malware Name}.tmp
  • %Malware Path%\pdfreader2019\ggggeewwewefaa.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Malware Path%\pdfreader2019
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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:

  • yesterday

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • Channel ID
  • Machine ID
  • OS Information
  • Installed Browsers
  • Default Browser
  • Username
  • Password
  • Nickname
  • Services
  • Processes
  • User Credentials stored by browser
  • Facebook Cookie
  • Facebook Payment Methods
  • Paypal Information
  • Credit Card information

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

  • Chrome
  • Firefox

Stolen Information

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

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}t.pw
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}o.pw

Other Details

This Trojan Spy accesses the following URL(s) to get the affected system's location:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}e.pw/

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.632.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 20 Jan 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.633.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 21 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

Identify and terminate files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.SOCELARS.AFKF

[ 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 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.  
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp\{Malware Name}.tmp
  • %Malware Path%\pdfreader2019\unins000.exe
  • %Malware Path%\pdfreader2019\unins000.dat
  • %Malware Path%\pdfreader2019\ggggeewwewefaa.exe

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %Malware Path%\pdfreader2019
  • %User Temp%\is-{random}.tmp

Step 6

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


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