Analysis by: Francis Xavier Antazo

ALIASES:

Troj/Shiotob-AD (Sophos); BackDoor.Bebloh.177 (DrWeb);

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet

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 modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

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

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It gathers information and reports it to its servers.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 326,068 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 06 Mar 2016
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\userow.exe

(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 adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • Global\Uz{hex values}

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • explorer.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random} = "%Application Data%\userow.lnk"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random key}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{GUID}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random key}
{random value} = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random key}
(Default) = "{hex values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{GUID}
Flags = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{GUID}
Version = "*"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random key}
{random} = "{hex values}"

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This spyware modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Download Routine

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}idasalacarta.com/ontv.exe

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\ontv.exe

(Note: %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 then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

Stolen Information

This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • {BLOCKED}su1fgdmm.net/set/?tver={value}&vcmd={value}&cc={value}&hh={Hex Value}&ipcnf={Ip address}+&sckport={value}&pros={value}&via={value}&keret={value};&email={email address}

Other Details

This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • www.google.com

It connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}su1fgdmm.net
  • https://{BLOCKED}su1fgdmm.net
  • {Random Generated Domain}.com
  • {Random Generated Domain}.net

It does the following:

  • Update itself
  • It does not proceed to its malicious routine if it detects that it is running in a VMWare environment
  • It deletes the cache files of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox
  • It monitors the following files to steal sensitive information, such as user names and passwords:
    • iexplore.exe
    • explorer.exe
    • myie.exe
    • firefox.exe
    • ftpte.exe
    • coreftp.exe
    • filezilla.exe
    • TOTALCMD.EXE
    • cftp.exe
    • FTPVoyager.exe
    • SmartFTP.exe
    • WinSCP.exe
    • chrome.exe
    • opera.exe
    • chrome.dll
    • thebat.exe
    • msimn.exe
    • nspr4.dll
    • nss3.dll
    • Outlook.exe

It gathers the following information and reports it to its servers:

  • Email addresses from Windows Address Book (WAB)
  • User Credentials (FTP, Browser, Email)
  • Machine Name
  • OS Information (Version, Product ID, Name, Install Date)
  • Explorer File Information
  • Volume Serial Number
  • Network Configuration (IP address, Socket, Ports)
  • Keyboard Layout

NOTES:

This malware adds the following processes:

  • explorer.exe

Note that if the malware is running in 32-bit systems, it does nothing and terminates itself.

It creates its autorun registry, the dropped copy and the dropped .lnk file before shutdown.

It injects codes in the following processes:

  • explorer.exe - 32-bit
  • created explorer.exe - 64-bit

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 12.388.02
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 07 Mar 2016
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 12.389.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 08 Mar 2016

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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
    • {random key}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings
    • {GUID}

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
    • {random} = "%Application Data%\userow.lnk"

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_BEBLOH.LS. 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 7

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]


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