TSPY_URSNIF.VSDP
Win32/PSW.Papras.EH (ESET-NOD32), Trojan.Win32.Scar.nxlv (Kaspersky)
Windows
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 does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
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%\{8 character string}\{8 character string}.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 and executes the following files:
- %User Temp%\{random folder name}\{random filename}.bat ← used to execute copy and delete itself; deleted afterwards
(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.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- Local\{GUID}
It injects codes into the following process(es):
- explorer.exe
- opera.exe
- chrome.exe
- iexplore.exe
- firefox.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
{8 character string} = "%Application Data%\{8 character string}\{8 character string}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}\
Vars
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}\
Files
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}\
Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}\
Config
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}
{Value Name} = "{hex value}"
- where {Value Name} may any of the following:
- Install
- Client
- LastTask
- LastConfig
- CrHook
- OpHook
- {GUID}
Propagation
This spyware does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This spyware does not have any backdoor routine.
Dropping Routine
This spyware drops the following file(s), into which it saves gathered information:
- %User Temp%\{random filename}.bin
(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.)
Information Theft
This spyware gathers the following data:
- Computer Name
- Digital Certificates
- Cookies
- Keyboard Logs
- Clipboard Logs
- Captured Screenshot
- Email Credentials
- Running processes and services
- Installed device drivers
- Installed Programs
- System Information (Please see notes for more details)
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http://{BLOCKED}gsz.com/images/{random path}.gif
It does the following:
- Save stolen information in a file and then upload it
- Monitor Internet browsing activities
- Hook APIs of target process
- Disable SPDY protocol in Mozilla Firefox
- Executes commands to gather information:
- systeminfo.exe
- tasklist.exe /SVC
- driverquery.exe
- reg.exe query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"
- Uninstall itself
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself
NOTES:
The variable {8 character string} are combinations of the first four characters of the file name of a .DLL file and the last four characters of another .DLL file found in the Windows system folder.
The following system information are returned by Systeminfo.exe:
- Host Name
- OS Name, Version, Manufacturer,
- Configuration and Build Type
- Registered Owner and Organization
- Product ID
- Original Install Date
- System Up Time
- System Manufacturer, Model and type
- Processor(s)
- BIOS version
- Windows and System directory
- Boot Device
- System and Input Locale
- Time Zone
- Total and Available Memory
- Virtual Memory information (Max, Available, In Use)
- Page file locations
- Domain
- Logon server
- Hotfix(es)
- Network card(s)
It does not have rootkit capabilities.
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
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
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
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
- {8 character string} = "%Application Data%\{8 character string}\{8 character string}.exe"
- {8 character string} = "%Application Data%\{8 character string}\{8 character string}.exe"
Step 5
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\AppDataLow\Software\Microsoft
- {GUID}
- {GUID}
Step 6
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\{random filename}.bin
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_URSNIF.VSDP. 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.
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_URSNIF.VSDP. 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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