Analysis by: Pearl Charlaine Espejo

ALIASES:

TR/AD.Ursnif.Y.istk (Avira); TrojanSpy:Win32/Ursnif.HP (Microsoft)

 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: 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 does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It connects to certain websites to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 559,410 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 28 Jun 2016
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals 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 and executes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\{random folder name}\{random filename}.bat ← used to execute copy and delete itself

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe
    where:
    {string1} = first four letters of a dll file under %System% directory
    {string2} = last four letters of a dll file under %System% directory

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\{string1}{string2}
    where:
    {string1} = first four letters of a dll file under %System% directory
    {string2} = last four letters of a dll file under %System% directory

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

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

  • Local\{GUID}

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • explorer.exe
  • opera.exe
  • chrome.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • firefox.exe

It terminates the execution of the copy it initially executed and executes the copy it drops instead.

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
{string1}{string2} = %Application Data%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}\
Vars

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}\
Files

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}\
Config

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\
Software\Microsoft\{GUID}
{Value Name} = "{hex value}"
where {Value Name} may be any of the following:

  • Block
  • Install
  • Client
  • LastTask
  • LastConfig
  • CrHook
  • OpHook
  • NetCfg
  • LastIni
  • {GUID}

Propagation

This spyware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This spyware does not have any backdoor routine.

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files wherein it saves the information it gathers:

  • %User Temp%\{random filename}.bin

(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp 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.)

Information Theft

This spyware gathers the following data:

  • Computer Name
  • Digital Certificates
  • Cookies
  • Keyboard Logs
  • Clipboard Logs
  • Captured Screenshot
  • Email Credentials
  • Running processes and services
  • Installed device drivers
  • Installed Programs
  • System Information (Please see notes for more details)

Other Details

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

  • http://{domain}/images/{random path}.{gif/jpeg}
    where {domain} can be any of the following:
    • {BLOCKED}uty.ru
    • {BLOCKED}rshteer.xyz
    • {BLOCKED}rrtron.club
    • {BLOCKED}raster.ru
    • {BLOCKED}on98.com

It does the following:

  • Save stolen information in a file and then upload it
  • Monitor Internet browsing activities
  • Hook APIs of target process
  • Disable SPDY protocol in Mozilla Firefox
  • Executes commands to gather information:
    • systeminfo.exe
    • tasklist.exe /SVC
    • driverquery.exe
    • reg.exe query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"
  • Uninstall itself
  • It terminates itself if it runs under a virtual machine or sandbox by checking the following strings against Plug and Play devices:
    • vbox
    • qemu
    • vmware
    • virtual hd

Mobile Malware Routine

This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL(s):

  • http://{domain}/images/{random path}.{bmp}
    where {domain} can be any of the following:
    • {BLOCKED}uty.ru
    • {BLOCKED}rshteer.xyz
    • {BLOCKED}rrtron.club
    • {BLOCKED}raster.ru
    • {BLOCKED}on98.com

NOTES:

The file systeminfo.exe return the following system information:

  • Host Name
  • OS Name, Version, Manufacturer,
  • Configuration and Build Type
  • Registered Owner and Organization
  • Product ID
  • Original Install Date
  • System Up Time
  • System Manufacturer, Model and type
  • Processor(s)
  • BIOS version
  • Windows and System directory
  • Boot Device
  • System and Input Locale
  • Time Zone
  • Total and Available Memory
  • Virtual Memory information (Max, Available, In Use)
  • Page file locations
  • Domain
  • Logon server
  • Hotfix(es)
  • Network card(s)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 12.626.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 02 Jul 2016
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 12.627.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 03 Jul 2016

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 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {string1}{string2} = "%Application Data%\{string1}{string2}\{string1}{string2}.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %Windows%\explorer.exe = "%Windows%\explorer.exe:*:Enabled:Windows Explorer"

Step 5

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\Microsoft
    • {GUID}

Step 6

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 filename}.bin

Step 7

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