TSPY_EMOTET.WJSX
VirTool:Win32/CeeInject.gen!KK (Microsoft), Win32/Emotet.AB (ESET), Downloader.Ponik (Symantec)
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware 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. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This spyware 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 spyware drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:
- %Application Data%\Identities\{random filename}.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops the following component file(s):
- %Application Data%\ms{random numbers}.bat - used to delete initially executed copy
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- ci{process ID of injected explorer.exe in hex}
- cm{process ID of injected explorer.exe in hex}
- rm{random}
- qazwsxedc
It injects codes into the following process(es):
- explorer.exe
Autostart Technique
This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random filename}.exe = "%Application Data%\Identities\{random filename}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape\
5.0\{random}\{random}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\????????????????????????????????????????????????
Information Theft
This spyware gathers the following data:
- computer name
- country
- volume information
- operating system
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.52:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.86.207:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.186:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.170.164:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.220.50:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.17.185:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.199.119:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.144:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.249.53:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.59.161:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.169.146:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.180:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.111.17:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.1.22:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.231.167:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.54.24:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.214:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.59.191:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.110.43:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.35:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.192:8080/{random}/{random}/
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.213.92:8080/{random}/{random}/
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
NOTES:
This spyware accesses the sites to post gathered information and download arbitrary files to be executed.
SOLUTION
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_EMOTET.WJSX
Step 4
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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
- {random filename}.exe = "%Application Data%\Identities\{random filename}.exe"
- {random filename}.exe = "%Application Data%\Identities\{random filename}.exe"
Step 6
Delete this registry key
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\Netscape\5.0
- {random}\{random}
- {random}\{random}
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
- ????????????????????????????????????????????????
- ????????????????????????????????????????????????
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_EMOTET.WJSX. 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.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.