W2KM_BARTALEX.SMA

 Analysis by: Cris Nowell Pantanilla

 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:

Spammed via email


BARTALEX is a macro malware responsible to a spam outbreak affecting enterprises. It uses Microsoft document and social engineering lures, which in this case, it leverages Automated Clearing House.

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

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

196,608 bytes

File Type:

DOC

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Apr 2015

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

Installation

This Trojan drops and executes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\{random numbers}.vbs
  • %User Temp%\{random numbers}.bat
  • %User Temp%\{random numbers}.ps1 (For OS Version Vista and above)

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Download Routine

This Trojan accesses the following websites to download files:

  • http://{BLOCKED}rteyn.be/wp-content/themes/twentytwelve/1623782.txt
  • http://{BLOCKED}SAM.COM/TMP/1623782.TXT
  • https://www.{BLOCKED}x.com/s/qdbl9s2gpmf50dt/rr_1.exe?dl=1
  • http://{BLOCKED}c.su/5577987.png

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\8.exe - detected as TSPY_DYRE.YUYCC
  • %User Temp%\444.jpg

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It then executes the downloaded files. As a result, malicious routines of the downloaded files are exhibited on the affected system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.620.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

22 Apr 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.621.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

23 Apr 2015

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

Search and delete this file

[ 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%\{random numbers}.vbs
%User Temp%\{random numbers}.bat
%User Temp%\{random numbers}.ps1
%User Temp%\444.jpg

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as W2KM_BARTALEX.SMA. 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 4

Enable the macro virus protection in Microsoft Office Applications

[ Learn More ]


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