Trojan.Win64.MEYRUL.A

 Analysis by: Arianne Grace Dela Cruz

 ALIASES:

Trojan-Spy.HawkEye (IKARUS); W32/Script.GENERIC!tr (FORTINET)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Trojan 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:

2,246,144 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

17 Feb 2020

Arrival Details

This Trojan 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 drops and executes the following files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\MSASRui.exe - copy of itself

(Note: %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).)

It adds the following processes:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\MSASRuil.exe (paremeters from config.txt) -a cryptonight -o stratum+tcp://xmr.{BLOCKED}.com:45560 -u {BLOCKED}@mail2tor.com -p x
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\ConfigSecurityPolicy.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\

(Note: %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).)

It terminates the execution of the copy it initially executed and executes the copy it drops instead.

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Windows Defender Real-time protection = %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\MSASRui.exe

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\system.pif - Aut2Exe.exe file
  • %User Temp%\dll-302.ico - jpg icon
  • %User Temp%\dll-303.ico - pdf icon
  • %User Temp%\dll-304.ico - mov icon
  • %User Temp%\dll-305.ico - mp3 icon
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\setting
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\MSASRuil.exe - detected as Coinminer.Win32.BITMINE.GF
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\ConfigSecurityPolicy.exe - detected as TROJ_GEN.R045C0WA820
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\vcruntime140.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\cudart32_65.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\msvcr100.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\msvcp140.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\pthreadVC2.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\config.txt - Coinminer Configuration File
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-rtlsupport-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-profile-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-1.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-processenvironment-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-namedpipe-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-memory-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-interlocked-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-heap-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-handle-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-file-l2-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-file-l1-2-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-file-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-errorhandling-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-debug-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-datetime-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-console-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-utility-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-time-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-string-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-process-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-private-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-multibyte-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-math-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-locale-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-filesystem-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-environment-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-convert-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-conio-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-util-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-timezone-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-sysinfo-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\ucrtbase.dll

(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).. %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).)

Download Routine

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

  • http://u.{BLOCKED}.io/{String 1}

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\{String 2}

(Note: %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).)

Information Theft

This Trojan gathers the following data:

  • Computer Name
  • User Name
  • Logon Domain
  • Serial Number of Drive C:\
  • IP Address
  • OS Version
  • Number of Processors

Other Details

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

  • www.google.com

It does the following:

  • It downloads {String 1} from the said website and saves it as {String 2}, where:
    • {String 1}:
      • KAJOe.exe
      • meyue.exe
      • tfhag.dll
      • ODJvl.dll
      • q0b3p.dll
      • QvwXI.dll
      • 5aKTU.dll
      • xq1u7.txt
      • 7jOxe.dll
      • CDMJf.dll
      • FvZOX.dll
      • VQmVf.dll
      • GgoN1.dll
      • 6Z1Ey.dll
      • 7jOxe.dll
      • CDMJf.dll
      • FvZOX.dll
      • VQmVf.dll
      • GgoN1.dll
      • 6Z1Ey.dll
      • Zqj53.dll
      • Vl9Aq.dll
      • WulJx.dll
      • EGkBS.dll
      • DAM80.dll
      • J2zX7.dll
      • pCSzw.dll
      • C2hWT.dll
      • 58lap.dll
      • c8vIX.dll
      • PjFat.dll
      • 5TMxN.dll
      • E8NEe.dll
      • 1p6ta.dll
      • QAY9e.dll
      • UKjLu.dll
      • uu8Pj.dll
      • A6SgS.dll
      • GV4Mn.dll
      • zxqWu.dll
      • 626ps.dll
      • IBYHQ.dll
      • guUN2.dll
      • Jecqq.dll
      • 8k10R.dll
      • a5pGg.dll
      • 7dWCn.dll
      • QeSH2.dll
      • dTHMz.dll
      • wSqvO.dll
      • NsQU7.dll
      • DW9F4.dll
      • yt4F7.dll
      • zHuqW.dll
      • myXlT.dll
    • {String 2}:
      • MSASRuil.exe
      • ConfigSecurityPolicy.exe
      • vcruntime140.dll
      • cudart32_65.dll
      • msvcr100.dll
      • msvcp140.dll
      • pthreadVC2.dll
      • config.txt
      • api-ms-win-core-rtlsupport-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-profile-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-1.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-processenvironment-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-namedpipe-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-memory-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-interlocked-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-heap-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-handle-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-file-l2-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-file-l1-2-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-file-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-errorhandling-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-debug-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-datetime-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-console-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-utility-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-time-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-string-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-process-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-private-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-multibyte-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-math-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-locale-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-filesystem-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-environment-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-convert-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-crt-conio-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-util-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-timezone-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-sysinfo-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-1-0.dll
      • api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll
      • ucrtbase.dll

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.706.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

25 Feb 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.707.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

26 Feb 2020

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

     Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF033

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

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.

 
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Windows Defender Real-time protection = "%AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\MSASRui.exe"

Step 6

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\MSASRui.exe
  • %User Temp%\system.pif - Aut2Exe.exe file
  • %User Temp%\dll-302.ico - jpg icon
  • %User Temp%\dll-303.ico - pdf icon
  • %User Temp%\dll-304.ico - mov icon
  • %User Temp%\dll-305.ico - mp3 icon
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\setting
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\MSASRuil.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\ConfigSecurityPolicy.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\vcruntime140.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\cudart32_65.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\msvcr100.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\msvcp140.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\pthreadVC2.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\config.txt
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-rtlsupport-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-profile-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-1.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-processthreads-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-processenvironment-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-namedpipe-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-memory-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-localization-l1-2-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-libraryloader-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-interlocked-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-heap-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-handle-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-file-l2-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-file-l1-2-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-file-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-errorhandling-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-debug-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-datetime-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-console-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-utility-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-time-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-string-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-stdio-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-runtime-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-process-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-private-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-multibyte-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-math-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-locale-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-heap-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-filesystem-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-environment-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-convert-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-crt-conio-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-util-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-timezone-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-sysinfo-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-2-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-synch-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\api-ms-win-core-string-l1-1-0.dll
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\ucrtbase.dll

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Trojan.Win64.MEYRUL.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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.