Analysis by: Rhena Inocencio

ALIASES:

TrojanSpy:Win32/Ploscato.G (Microsoft), Trojan-Spy.Win32.POS.q (Kaspersky), Troj/Ploscato-A (Sophos)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware

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 may be dropped by other malware.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 106,496 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 Oct 2014
Payload: Reads memory of running processes

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.

It may be dropped by other malware.

Installation

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Windows%\Help\ifxjdbc.chm - contains IP address of affected system

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

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

  • m_number3

NOTES:

This spyware accepts the parameter -service.

It reads the memory of the all running processes to dump credit card information except for the following processes:

  • smss.exe
  • csrss.exe
  • wininit.exe
  • services.exe
  • lsass.exe
  • svchost.exe
  • winlogon.exe
  • sched.exe
  • spoolsv.exe
  • System
  • conhost.exe
  • ctfmon.exe
  • wmiprvse.exe
  • mdm.exe
  • taskmgr.exe
  • explorer.exe
  • RegSrvc.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • chrome.exe

It validates if the credit card format belongs to any of the following:

  • American Express
  • Diners Club - Carte Blanche
  • Diners Club - International

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 11.224.07
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 08 Oct 2014
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 11.225.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 08 Oct 2014

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ 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.  
  • %Windows%\Help\ifxjdbc.chm

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_MEMLOG.B. 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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