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Backdoor.MSIL.NANOCORE.TIAOODEK

January 31, 2020
 ALIASES:

VirTool:MSIL/Lore.AD!MTB [non_writable_container], VirTool:MSIL/Lore.AD!MTB [non_writable_container] (Microsoft); RDN/Generic.grp (McAfee); HEUR:Trojan.MSIL.NanoBot.gen (Kaspersky); Troj/MSIL-NEW (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

488,960 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

31 Jan 2020

Arrival Details

This Backdoor 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 Backdoor adds the following processes:

  • "powershell" Get-MpPreference -verbose
  • schtasks.exe /Create /TN "Updates\WLbtsm" /XML "%User Temp%\tmp1592.tmp"
  • "{malware file path and name}"
  • REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\mscorsvw.exe
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceAndNoImpersonation
  • %Windows%\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\mscorsvw.exe
  • %System%\sppsvc.exe
  • "%System Root%\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe"
  • %System%\lsass.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
  • %Application Data%\WXdOVsM

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
FPGduEFk = "%Application Data%\WXdOVsM\sUHTG.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Backdoor deletes the following files:

  • %Application Data%\WXdOVsM\sUHTG.exe:Zone.Identifier

(Note: %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 adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Features
TamperProtection = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender
DisableAntiSpyware = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableBehaviorMonitoring = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableOnAccessProtection = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\VaultSvc
Type = "16"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
services\SSDPSRV
Type = "16"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 20.)

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"

Dropping Routine

This Backdoor drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr0.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Media Player\CurrentDatabase_372.wmdb
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\drmstore.hds
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr1.dat
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\v3ks.sec
  • %Application Data%\WLbtsm.exe
  • %Application Data%\WXdOVsM\sUHTG.exe

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit). . %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).)

Other Details

This Backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://us2.{BLOCKED}p.mailhostbox.com

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 Backdoor.MSIL.NANOCORE.TIAOODEK

[ 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

Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options

[ Learn More ]
By doing this step, you also enable other applications/programs disabled by this malware/grayware/spyware. Screen reader support enabled.

Step 5

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
    • FPGduEFk = "%Application Data%\WXdOVsM\sUHTG.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Features
    • TamperProtection = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
    • DisableAntiSpyware = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableBehaviorMonitoring = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableOnAccessProtection = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection
    • DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\VaultSvc
    • Type = "16"

Step 6

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\SSDPSRV
    • From: Type = "16"
      To: Type = ""20""

Step 7

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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr0.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Media Player\CurrentDatabase_372.wmdb
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\drmstore.hds
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr1.dat
  • %All Users Profile%\Microsoft\Windows\DRM\v3ks.sec
  • %Application Data%\WLbtsm.exe
  • %Application Data%\WXdOVsM\sUHTG.exe

Step 8

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.
  • %Windows%\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
  • %Application Data%\WXdOVsM

Step 9

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Backdoor.MSIL.NANOCORE.TIAOODEK. 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 10

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Application Data%\WXdOVsM\sUHTG.exe:Zone.Identifier


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