ALIASES:

Worm:MSIL/Sipia.A (Microsoft); GenericRXAS-XX!F069A205145F (McAfee); HEUR:Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Generic (Kaspersky); Mal/MsilDyn-E (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Worm 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: 1,190,912 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 12 Jun 2020

Arrival Details

This Worm 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 Worm adds the following processes:

  • "netsh.exe" firewall set opmode disable
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k netsvcs

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

This Worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Skype = "{malware file path and name}"

Other System Modifications

This Worm modifies the following file(s):

  • %System%\drivers\etc\hosts

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ShortCutInfection
BlackHacker = "True"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

Dropping Routine

This Worm drops the following files:

  • {Removable Drive}\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\excel2k\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\My Videos\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\fp_18.0.0.203_archive\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\powerpoint2k\{malware file name}
  • %User Temp%\workgroup
  • %User Profile%\Documents\My Pictures\{malware file name}
  • %Desktop%\powerpoint2k\{malware file name}
  • {Removable Drive}\data.lnk
  • {Removable Drive}\mail_client.lnk
  • %Desktop%\word2k\{malware file name}
  • {Removable Drive}\wlines.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Documents\My Music\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\word2k\{malware file name}
  • %Desktop%\excel2k\{malware file name}

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as Worm.MSIL.SIPIA.A

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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
    • Skype = "{malware file path and name}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ShortCutInfection
    • BlackHacker = "True"

Step 5

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\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: Hidden = "0"
      To: Hidden = ""2""

Step 6

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • {Removable Drive}\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\excel2k\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\My Videos\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\fp_18.0.0.203_archive\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\powerpoint2k\{malware file name}
  • %User Temp%\workgroup
  • %User Profile%\Documents\My Pictures\{malware file name}
  • %Desktop%\powerpoint2k\{malware file name}
  • {Removable Drive}\data.lnk
  • {Removable Drive}\mail_client.lnk
  • %Desktop%\word2k\{malware file name}
  • {Removable Drive}\wlines.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Documents\My Music\{malware file name}
  • %User Profile%\Documents\word2k\{malware file name}
  • %Desktop%\excel2k\{malware file name}

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Worm.MSIL.SIPIA.A. 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

Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related files/keys/values will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

    • %System%\drivers\etc\hosts


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