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TrojanSpy.MSIL.NEGASTEAL.FAB

February 12, 2020
 Analysis by: Karen Ivy Titiwa
 ALIASES:

HEUR:Trojan.MSIL.Crypt.gen (KASPERSKY); Trojan.GenericKD.32994568 (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:

Downloaded from the Internet


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.

It adds certain registry entries to disable the Task Manager. This action prevents users from terminating the malware process, which can usually be done via the Task Manager. It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

It logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

483,328 bytes

File Type:

, EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

28 Jan 2020

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs

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 adds the following folders:

  • %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY -> this is where component and dropped files are stored

(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It drops the following files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY\nrAUc.exe → copy of this malware
  • %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY\nrAUc.vbs → contains command to execute the dropped exe file
  • %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY\nrAUcYEQU.hta → contains command to execute the vbs file
  • %Application Data%\S_{random}_{date}.jpeg → screenshot

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

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • InstallUtil.exe

Autostart Technique

This Trojan Spy registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
nrAUc = %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY\nrAUcYEQU.hta

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\System
DisableCMD = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoRun = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoControlPanel = 1

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
EnableLUA = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableRegistryTools = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
DisableSR = 1

It adds the following registry entries to disable the Task Manager:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = 1

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoFolderOptions = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoFolderOptions = 1

Download Routine

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}m.com

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\nqY

(Note: %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).)

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • UserName
  • ComputerName
  • OSFullName
  • Processor Name
  • Amount of PhysicalMemory
  • Username and password from the following applications
    • Opera Browser
    • Yandex Browser
    • 360 Browser
    • Iridium Browser
    • Comodo Dragon
    • Cool Novo
    • Chromium
    • Torch Browser
    • 7Star
    • Amigo
    • Brave
    • CentBrowser
    • Chedot
    • Coccoc
    • Elements Browser
    • Epic Privacy
    • Kometa
    • Orbitum
    • Sputnik
    • Uran
    • Vivaldi
    • Citrio
    • Liebao Browser
    • Sleipnir 6
    • QIP Surf
    • Coowon

It logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.676.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

10 Feb 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.677.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

11 Feb 2020

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     
    • Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF033

Step 2

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 3

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 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

Identify and terminate files detected as TrojanSpy.MSIL.NEGASTEAL.FAB

[ 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 6

Terminate a malware/grayware process

[ Learn More ]

*Note: If the detected process is not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, continue doing the next steps.

    • %User Temp%\nqY

Step 7

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY\nrAUc.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY\nrAUc.vbs
  • %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY\nrAUcYEQU.hta
  • %Application Data%\S_{random}_{date}.jpeg
  • %User Temp%\nqY

Step 8

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%\nrAUcY

Step 9

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • nrAUc = %AppDataLocal%\nrAUcY\nrAUcYEQU.hta
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    • DisableTaskMgr = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • NoFolderOptions = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • NoFolderOptions = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
    • DisableCMD = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • NoRun = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • NoControlPanel = 1

Step 10

Restore this modified 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\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    • EnableLUA = from 0 to {default}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    • DisableRegistryTools = from 1 to {default}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SystemRestore
    • DisableSR = from 1 to {default}

Step 11

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.MSIL.NEGASTEAL.FAB. 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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