Coinminer.Win32.MALXMR.ANZ

 Analysis by: John Anthony Banes

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Coinminer

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible. It uses the system's central processing unit (CPU) and/or graphical processing unit (GPU) resources to mine cryptocurrency.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,590,784 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

19 Jan 2019

Arrival Details

This Coinminer 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 Coinminer adds the following folders:

  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY

(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It drops the following files:

  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\windrvmgr32
  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfg
  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfgi
  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\r.vbs

(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Autostart Technique

This Coinminer drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Startup\LtHgNeMqRB.url

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other Details

This Coinminer connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}7.153/c.txt

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It uses the system's central processing unit (CPU) and/or graphical processing unit (GPU) resources to mine cryptocurrency. This behavior makes the system run abnormally slow.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.764.02

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

21 Jan 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.765.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

22 Jan 2019

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

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.
  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\windrvmgr32
  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfg
  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\cfgi
  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY\r.vbs
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Startup\LtHgNeMqRB.url

Step 5

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.
  • %ProgramData%\ADwXcSSGvY

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Coinminer.Win32.MALXMR.ANZ. 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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