Analysis by: Patrick Angelo Roderno
ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/CoinMiner.QN!bi (MICROSOFT); Generic.dzg (NAI); DeepScan:Generic.Malware.SFMBVWk.F1628CDE (BITDEFENDER)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Coinminer

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

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

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 475136 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 13 Oct 2018
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

This Coinminer 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 Coinminer drops and executes the following files:

  • %All Users Profile%\adobe\{random}.exe
  • %All Users Profile%\temp\{random}.exe
  • %All Users Profile%\top\{random}.exe
  • %All Users Profile%\delus.bat

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, and 8. )

It adds the following processes:

  • cmd /c icacls c:\ /setintegritylevel M
  • cmd /c icacls %System Root%\ /setintegritylevel M
  • cmd /c sc Create WebCliant binPath= "cmd /c start %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\desktop.vbs" type= own type= interact start= auto
  • cmd /c sc Create ChannelRent binPath= "cmd /c start %System%\Com\vsx.vbs" type= own type= interact start= auto
  • cmd /c sc Create ChannelPace binPath= "cmd /c start %Application Data%\winsa.vbs" type= own type= interact start= auto
  • %All Users Profile%\ativsi.exe " -a lyra2z -o apple.exe -a yescrypt -o stratum+tcp://yescrypt.xmy.mine.zpool.ca:6233 -u MP8WzU2Ko3GKzMtnEZhz36RMCkjQok4L9d -p c=xmy

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, and 8. )

It creates the following folders:

  • %All Users Profile%\top
  • %All Users Profile%\temp
  • %All Users Profile%\Adobe
  • %Program Files%\360\360sd

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, and 8. . %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), 7 (32-bit), and 8 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), 7 (64-bit), and 8 (64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

This Coinminer adds and runs the following services:

  • Service Name: WebCliant
    Display Name: (Default)
    Start Type: SERVICE_AUTO_START
    Binary Pathname: cmd /c start %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\desktop.vbs
  • Service Name: ChannelRent
    Display Name: (Default)
    Start Type: SERVICE_AUTO_START
    Binary Pathname: cmd /c start %System%\Com\vsx.vbs
  • Service Name: ChannelPace
    Display Name: (Default)
    Start Type: SERVICE_AUTO_START
    Binary Pathname: cmd /c start %Application Data%\winsa.vbs

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Dropping Routine

This Coinminer drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\360\360sd\360sd.exe
  • %All Users Profile%\{random}.exe
  • %Application Data%\{random}.bat
  • %Application Data%\winsa.vbs
  • %Application Data%\cba.vbs
  • %Program Files%\windows nt\{random}.dll
  • %Program Files%\common files\{random}.dll
  • %Program Files%\internet explorer\{random}.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\desktop.vbs

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), 7 (32-bit), and 8 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), 7 (64-bit), and 8 (64-bit).. %All Users Profile% is the common user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, and 8. . %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Other Details

This Coinminer connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:

  • http://dir.twseo.org/ip-check.php

It does the following:

  • connects to the following URL to obtain coinmining-related commands:
    • http://www.{BLOCKED}ak.com/v3/i.txt
    • http://www.{BLOCKED}ak.com/v3/xk.txt -> contains the config for coinminer
    • http://www.{BLOCKED}ak.com/v3/h.txt -> contains the config for coinminer
    • http://www.{BLOCKED}ak.com/fgg6.asp?Name={IP}&Pass=1&ip=1 ->(inaccessible)
    • http://2012.{BLOCKED}e.com/shop/gooddata/nopicd.jpg ->(inaccessible)
    • http://2012.{BLOCKED}e.com/shop/gooddata/nopice.jpg ->(inaccessible)
  • uses the following coinmining details:
    • Algorithm: yescrypt
    • Mining pool URL & Port: tcp://{BLOCKED}pt.xmy.mine.zpool.ca:6233
    • Wallet Address: {BLOCKED}2Ko3GKzMtnEZhz36RMCkjQok4L9d

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.630.06
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 16 Nov 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.631.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 17 Nov 2018

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 ]
    • WebCliant
    • ChannelRent
    • ChannelPace

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ 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%\top
  • %All Users Profile%\temp
  • %All Users Profile%\Adobe
  • %Program Files%\360\360sd

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.
  • %All Users Profile%\banssec.inf
  • %Program Files%\360\360sd\360sd.exe
  • %All Users Profile%\{random}.exe
  • %Application Data%\{random}.bat
  • %Application Data%\winsa.vbs
  • %Application Data%\cba.vbs
  • %Program Files%\windows nt\{random}.dll
  • %Program Files%\common files\{random}.dll
  • %Program Files%\internet explorer\{random}.dll
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\desktop.vbs

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Coinminer.Win32.MALXMY.THAAADAH. 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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