Analysis by: John Donnie Celestre
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan Spy

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 76,940 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 Aug 2018

Arrival Details

This Trojan Spy 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 Trojan Spy drops the following files:

  • %ProgramData%\Adobe\desktop.ini

(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan Spy modifies the following registry entry(ies) to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
_default = RUNDLL32 "C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe" DllRegisterServer

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\WMIHelper\Parameters

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\WMIHelper\Parameters
ServiceDll = {malware path}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\WMIHelper\Parameters
ServiceMain = SafeSvcMain

Other Details

This Trojan Spy connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http[:]//{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.37[.]101:80
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.37.101.vultr.com
  • NS1.{BLOCKED}R.COM
  • NS2.{BLOCKED}R.COM

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.426.08
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 06 Aug 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.427.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 07 Aug 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

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.

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.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\WMIHelper
    • Parameters

Step 5

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.
  • %ProgramData%\Adobe\desktop.ini

Step 6

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