TROJ_ROVNIX.JNE

 Analysis by: Jeanne Jocson

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet


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. It may be dropped by other malware.

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It gathers information and reports it to its servers.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

901,120 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

07 Mar 2016

Payload:

Downloads files, Connects to URLs/IPs, 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.

It may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_PAWXNIC.J

Installation

This Trojan drops a copy of itself in the following folders using different file names:

  • "%Application Data%\BackUp{Volume ID}.exe"

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %User Temp%\L{Volume ID}
  • %User Temp%\NTFS.sys
  • %User Temp%\tmp{random characters}.tmp
  • %System%\BOOT.dat

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • Global\INSNTFS{Volume ID}
  • Global\UACNTFS{Volume ID}
  • Global\BDNTFS{Volume ID}

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
BackUp{Volume ID} = "%Application Data%\BackUp{Volume ID}.exe"

It adds and runs the following services:

  • Service Name: BS{Volume ID}
    Display Name: BS{Volume ID}
    Start Type: SERVICE_DEMAND_START
    Binary Pathname: %User Temp%\NTFS.sys

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sysinternals\
C
EulaAccepted = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\B{Volume ID}
LP = "%User temp%\L{Volume ID}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
RSA{Volume ID} = "%System%\rundll32.exe "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\RSA{Volume ID}.dll",DllInitialize

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\B{Volume ID}
ID = "-- default --"

Propagation

This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.

Process Termination

This Trojan terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • iexplore.exe

Download Routine

This Trojan accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ssa.com/18725640.zip

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}ssa.com/cgi-bin/160116/post.cgi

It checks for the presence of the following process(es):

  • explorer.exe

It does the following:

  • Terminates itself if Hard Disk is Protected and/or Encrypted by any of the following:
    • BitLocker
    • VeraCrypt
    • TrueCrypt
  • Terminates itself if the malware name and/or path has the following substrings:
    • samp
    • smpl
    • vir
    • malw
    • test
    • troj
  • Can do any of the following depending on the installation date of "%System%\win32k.sys":
    • Create svchost process with this argument "-1 EVT{Volume ID}"
    • Inject codes to created svchost.exe
    • Create a window with a random class name

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

It terminates itself if any of the following user name(s) are found in the affected system:

  • luser
  • perl
  • python
  • trace
  • dump

It gathers the following information and reports it to its servers:

  • Malware ID
  • Filepath and Name of the log file
  • OS Version and Architecture
  • File System
  • Volume ID
  • System Date and Time
  • Child Process ID
  • Child Filepath and Filename
  • Parent Process ID
  • Parent Filepath and Filename
  • Current Malware Directory
  • Username
  • SID SubAuthority Level

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.800

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Disable this malware service

[ Learn More ]
  • BS{Volume ID}

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sysinternals\C
    • EulaAccepted = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\B{Volume ID}
    • LP = "%User temp%\L{Volume ID}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • RSA{Volume ID} = "%System%\rundll32.exe "%Application Data%\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\RSA{Volume ID}.dll",DllInitialize
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\B{Volume ID}
    • ID = "-- default --"

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.
  • %User Temp%\L{Volume ID}
  • %User Temp%\NTFS.sys
  • %User Temp%\tmp{random characters}.tmp
  • %System%\BOOT.dat
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\RSA{Volume ID}.dll

Step 7

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded TROJ_ROVNIX.JNE. (Note: Please skip this step if the threat(s) listed below have already been removed.)

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_ROVNIX.JNE. 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.


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