Backdoor.Win64.SHADOWPAD.AE

 Modified by: Alyssa Christelle Ramos

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Backdoor 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:

298,496 bytes

File Type:

DLL

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

18 Mar 2020

Arrival Details

This Backdoor 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 Backdoor adds the following processes:

  • %Windows%\temp\TrendUpdate.exe
  • %System%\svchost.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\Gateway
  • %System Root%\Users\All Users\Gateway

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit). . %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

This Backdoor registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ALGS
ImagePath = "%All Users Profile%\Gateway\Algs.exe"

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
LayerGatewayService = "%All Users Profile%\Gateway\Algs.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Backdoor deletes the following files:

  • %Windows%\Temp\secur32.img

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

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\INB
INB = "\xf7\xcb\x91O\xc9\x86C\xe3\x07\x0b\x00\x01\x00\x12\x00\x12\x00\x03\x001\x00?\x01"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ALGS
DisplayName = "Application Layer Gateway Service"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ALGS
Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

Dropping Routine

This Backdoor drops the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\Gateway\secur32.dll
  • %Windows%\Logs\DPX\setpend.txt
  • %Windows%\Temp\secur32.dll
  • %All Users Profile%\Gateway\Algs.exe
  • %Windows%\Temp\TrendUpdate.exe
  • %System Root%\Users\All Users\Gateway\Algs.exe
  • %System Root%\Users\All Users\Gateway\secur32.dll

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\ProgramData 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.. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

15.752.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

19 Mar 2020

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

15.753.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

20 Mar 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.XXPE50FFF034

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Identify and terminate files detected as Backdoor.Win64.SHADOWPAD.AE

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 5

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\CurrentVersion\Run
    • LayerGatewayService = %All Users Profile%\Gateway\Algs.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\INB
    • INB = \xf7\xcb\x91O\xc9\x86C\xe3\x07\x0b\x00\x01\x00\x12\x00\x12\x00\x03\x001\x00?\x01
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ALGS
    • DisplayName = Application Layer Gateway Service
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ALGS
    • Start = SERVICE_AUTO_START

Step 6

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Gateway\secur32.dll
  • %Windows%\Logs\DPX\setpend.txt
  • %Windows%\Temp\secur32.dll
  • %All Users Profile%\Gateway\Algs.exe
  • %Windows%\Temp\TrendUpdate.exe
  • %System Root%\Users\All Users\Gateway\Algs.exe
  • %System Root%\Users\All Users\Gateway\secur32.dll

Step 7

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.
  • %All Users Profile%\Gateway
  • %System Root%\Users\All Users\Gateway

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Backdoor.Win64.SHADOWPAD.AE. 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 9

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Windows%\Temp\secur32.img


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