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HackTool.Win32.SamKey.A

November 10, 2019
 PLATFORM:

Windows

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 SYSTEM IMPACT RATING:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Hacking Tool

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Hacking Tool 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:

23,561,134 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

10 Nov 2019

Arrival Details

This Hacking Tool 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 Hacking Tool creates the following folders:

  • %System Root%\SamKEY

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

Other System Modifications

This Hacking Tool modifies the following file(s):

  • %System%\comctl32.dll

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

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\
Layers

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\
Layers

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\
Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
adb.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\
Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
Client.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\
Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
samkd.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\
AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\
SamKEY
adb.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\
AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\
SamKEY
Client.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\
AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\
SamKEY
samkd.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

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

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 NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags
    • Layers
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags
    • Layers

Step 3

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
    • adb.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
    • Client.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
    • samkd.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
    • adb.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
    • Client.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers\%System Root%\SamKEY
    • samkd.exe = "~ RUNASADMIN"

Step 4

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.
  • %System Root%\SamKEY

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HackTool.Win32.SamKey.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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:

Step 6

Restore deleted/modified files and/or registry entries from backup

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

    • %System%\comctl32.dll


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