Analysis by: Augusto II Remillano
ALIASES:

a variant of Win32/Spy.Socelars.G trojan (NOD32), W32/Socelars.G!tr.spy (Fortinet)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It gathers information and reports it to its servers.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 334,848 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 25 Jun 2018
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files, Terminates processes, Steals information

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 adds the following folders:

  • %AppDataLocal%\XService

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan creates the following service using its DLL component:

  • MicroServiceGroup

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService\Parameters

It adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
Type = "32"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
ErrorControl = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
DisplayName = "MicroService"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
ImagePath = "%SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k MicroServiceGroup"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost
MicroServiceGroup = "MicroService"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService
Description = "MicroService"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\MicroService\Parameters
ServiceDll = "%AppDataLocal%\XService\XService.dll"

Process Termination

This Trojan terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • chrome.exe (Google Chrome)

Download Routine

This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) to download its component file(s):

  • http://down.{BLOCKED}u.com/DD/Service.bin
  • http://down.{BLOCKED}u.com/DD/X86.bin
  • http://down.{BLOCKED}u.com/DD/X64.bin

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %AppDataLocal%\XService\XService.dll
  • %Program Files%\Google\Chrome\Application\winhttp.dll

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local 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.. %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • http://api.{BLOCKED}i.com/api/ip

It does the following:

  • Connects to the following URL to report back to its C&C server:
    http://api.{BLOCKED}i.com/api/report
  • The downloaded file %Program Files%\Google\Chrome\Application\winhttp.dll is executed when the user opens Google Chrome.

It gathers the following information and reports it to its servers:

  • IP Address
  • Operating System

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.404.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 26 Jul 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.405.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 27 Jul 2018

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

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
    • MicroService

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MicroService
    • Type = "32"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MicroService
    • Start = "2"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MicroService
    • ErrorControl = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MicroService
    • ImagePath = "%SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k MicroServiceGroup"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MicroService
    • DisplayName = "MicroService"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MicroService
    • ObjectName = "LocalSystem"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Svchost
    • MicroServiceGroup = "MicroService"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MicroService
    • Description = "MicroService"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MicroService\Parameters
    • ServiceDll = "%AppDataLocal%\XService\XService.dll"

Step 6

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\XService\XService.dll
  • %Program Files%\Google\Chrome\Application\winhttp.dll

Step 7

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%\XService

Step 8

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