HKTL_PASSVIEW

February 11, 2021
 Modified by: Earle Maui Earnshaw
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Hacking Tool

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet

This Hacking Tool may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

30,720 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Jun 2020

Payload:

Displays message/message boxes, Steals information, Drops files

Arrival Details

This Hacking Tool may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.

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

Other System Modifications

This Hacking Tool deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NirSoft\
rdpv

Dropping Routine

This Hacking Tool drops the following files:

  • {File Path}\rdpv_lng.ini → if file was executed with "/savelangfile" argument

Information Theft

This Hacking Tool gathers the following data:

  • Remote Desktop Connection Information:
    • Computer Name
    • Domain
    • Username
    • Password
    • Filename of the .rdp file

Other Details

This Hacking Tool does the following:

  • Reveals the password stored by Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection utility inside the .rdp files.
  • Allows user to input .rdp file to gather password stored on the said files.
  • Searches .rdp files in %User Profile%\Documents
  • It displays the following image:
  • Accepts the following arguments:
    • /savelangfile → to drop the language file of Remote Desktop PassView to change the language according to the desired language
  • Delete HKCU\Software\NirSoft\rdpv registry key if file is executed with /deleteregkey parameter.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

SSAPI PATTERN File:

2.118.24

SSAPI PATTERN Date:

10 Nov 2018

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

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

Restore this deleted registry key/value from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

 
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NirSoft\rdpv
    • {Default} = "{Default}"

Step 4

Search and delete the files detected as HKTL_PASSVIEW <p><b>*Note:</b> Some component files may be hidden. Please make sure you check the <i>Search Hidden Files and Folders</i> checkbox in the <i>More advanced options</i> option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.</p>

<!-- ########## Addressing Registry Shell Spawning ########## --> <p><i>To stop the malware/grayware from running when certain files are opened:</i></p> <p>For Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 (R2), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):</p> <ol> <li>Open a Windows Explorer window.<ul><li><i>For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users,</i> click <i>Start>Computer</i>.</li> <li><i>For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users,</i> right-click on the lower left corner of the screen,then click <i>File Explorer</i>.</li></ul> </li> <li>In the <i>Search Computer/This PC</i> input box, type the name of the file that was detected earlier.</li> <li>Once located, select the file then press <i>SHIFT+DELETE</i> to delete it. <br> <b>*Note:</b> Read the <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/977380/the-search-programs-and-files-box-does-not-display-search-results-corr" target="_blank">following Microsoft page</a> if these steps do not work on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 (R2).</li> </ol>

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HKTL_PASSVIEW. 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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