Analysis by: Jeanne Jocson
 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, Downloaded from the Internet

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: 487,424 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 24 Oct 2016
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\IMEKLMG.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.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
IMEKLMG = %Application Data%\IMEKLMG.exe -s

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
IMEKLMG = %Application Data%\IMEKLMG.exe -s

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Network
EthernetDriver = {hex values}

Other Details

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

  • update.{BLOCKED}eves.com:443
  • update.{BLOCKED}eves.com:8080

It does the following:

  • Connects to a user specified IP.
  • Creates process.
  • Get Computer Name
  • Terminate Process
  • Create File

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 13.224.02
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 16 Feb 2017
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 13.225.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 17 Feb 2017

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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Network
    • EthernetDriver = {hex values}

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TSPY_BANKER.NTE. 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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