Analysis by: John Donnie Celestre

ALIASES:

Trojan.GenericKD.30883558 (BITDEFENDER)

 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: 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: 558,592 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 27 May 2018
Payload: Drops files, Connects to URLs/IPs, Modifies system registry

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 a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random alphanumeric string}\{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 files:

  • %User Temp%\{random 4 digit number}.tmp
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{random alphanumeric string}.default\prefs.js

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.. %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.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan Spy modifies the following registry entry(ies) to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random alphanumeric string} = %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random alphanumeric string}\{random filename}.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{random alphanumeric string}

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{random alphanumeric string}
Client = {hex data}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{random alphanumeric string}
TorClient = {hex data}

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
EnableSPDY3_0 = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

Other Details

This Trojan Spy connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}/files/AZ.bin

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.278.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 27 May 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.279.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 28 May 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 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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random alphanumeric string} = %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random alphanumeric string}\{random filename}.exe

Step 5

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\Microsoft
    • {random alphanumeric string}

Step 6

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
    • From: EnableSPDY3_0 = "0"
      To: EnableSPDY3_0 = 1

Step 7

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%\Microsoft\{random alphanumeric string}\{random filename}.exe
  • %User Temp%\{random 4 digit number}.tmp
  • %Application Data%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{random alphanumeric string}.default\prefs.js

Step 8

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