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TSPY_LIMITAIL.LG

June 18, 2015
 Analysis by: David John Agni
 ALIASES:

Infostealer.Limitail(Symantec)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware


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 connects to a website to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,586,628 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

10 Jun 2015

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information

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 files:

  • %Application Data%\WhlfQIgY\bYgIQflhW.exe
  • %User Temp%\MBlXEEVYi

(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.. %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 creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\WhlfQIgY

(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 stays resident in memory by creating the following process(es):

  • vbc.exe

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • created vbc.exe

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DC3_FEXEC
{date and time installed} = "{GUID}"

Backdoor Routine

This spyware connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • {BLOCKED}arcter.ddnsking.com

Information Theft

This spyware gathers the following data:

  • Browser Cache Usernames/Password (Chrome, IE,Safari,Opera)
  • Internet Download Manager Credentials
  • Smart FTP & Core FTP Credentials
  • Computer Information (Computer Name, IP Address, Diskspace, OS version/platform, Firewall Installed, AV Installed)
  • Clipboard Data (w/ Window Title)
  • Keystroke (w/ Window Title)

NOTES:

It creates the following Task Scheduler that executes the dropped file every minute:

  • WindowsUpdateWhlfQ0x8429525

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.722.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

09 Jun 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.723.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

10 Jun 2015

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ 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
    • DC3_FEXEC

Step 4

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %Application Data%\WhlfQIgY

Step 5

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. DATA_GENERIC
  • In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
  • Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
  • Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
    *Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).

    • For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

    1. Open a Windows Explorer window.
      • For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
      • For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
    2. In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
      DATA_GENERIC
    3. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
    4. Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
      *Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.

    Step 6

    Delete the Scheduled Tasks added by this malware/grayware

    [ Learn More ]

    To delete the added Scheduled Task file:

    For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

    1. Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. To do this, click Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Scheduled Tasks.
    2. Double-click on a .JOB file.
    3. Check if the malware path and file name exists in the .JOB file. To do this, check the value in the Run field.
    4. If found, select the .JOB file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the file.
    5. Repeat the steps above for the remaining .JOB files.

    For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

    1. Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
      • On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
      • On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter.
    2. In the left panel of the Task Scheduler Window, click Task Scheduler Library.
    3. In the upper-middle panel, click a Task.
    4. In the lower middle panel, click the Actions tab
    5. Check if the malware path and file name exists in the task. To do this, check the value in the Details column under the Actions tab.
    6. If found, select the task and press DELETE and click Yes to delete the task.
    7. Repeat the steps above for the remaining tasks.

    Step 7

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