TSPY_POSLUSY.A


 ALIASES:

Infostealer.Dexter (Symantec), not-a-virus:NetTool.Win32.Tor.v (Kaspersky), Trj/Genetic.gen (Panda), TR/Hijacker.Gen (Avira)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware


This is the new POS malware family known as LusyPOS, which has similar characteristics to Dexter and Chewbacca POS malware.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Spyware, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

4,028,416 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

02 Dec 2014

Payload:

Sends out information

Arrival Details

This spyware 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 spyware drops the following component file(s):

  • {malware path}\mbambservice.exe - deleted afterwards
  • {malware path}\ibcurl.dll - deleted afterwards
  • {malware path}\zlib1.dll - deleted afterwards
  • %Application Data%\VeriFone32\libcurl.dll - library component containing curl functions
  • %Application Data%\VeriFone32\mbambservice.exe - legitimate TOR
  • %Application Data%\VeriFone32\zlib1.dll - library component containing data compression functions

(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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\VeriFone32\verifone32.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 adds the following processes:

  • iexplore.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\VeriFone32

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

  • prowin32Mutex

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • iexplore.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
VeriFone32 = "%Application Data%\VeriFone32\verifone32.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Verifone32
Digitb00 = "{GUID}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Associations
Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Internet Settings\\Zones\\0 = ".exe;.bat;.reg;.vbs;"

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Verifone32

Other Details

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}jjwzjopq.onion/d/gw.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}gxeqmvsugz.onion/d/gw.php

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

NOTES:

It reads the memory of the all running processes to acquire dump of credit card information except for the following processes:

  • wmiprvse.exe
  • LogonUI.exe
  • svchost.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • explorer.exe
  • System
  • smss.exe
  • csrss.exe
  • winlogon.exe
  • lsass.exe
  • spoolsv.exe
  • alg.exe
  • wuauclt.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • chrome.exe
  • devenv.exe

It sends the following information:

  • page= mutex
  • ump= credit card information
  • unm= user name
  • cnm= computer name
  • spec= OS architecture
  • query= OS version
  • val= {value}
  • var= version
  • view = running process

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • Verifone32

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\Verifone32
    • Digitb00 = "{GUID}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations
    • Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Internet Settings\\Zones\\0 = ".exe;.bat;.reg;.vbs;"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • VeriFone32 = "%Application Data%\VeriFone32\verifone32.exe"

Step 6

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.  
  • %Application Data%\VeriFone32

Step 7

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


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