Analysis by: Jayvee Mark Villaroman
ALIASES:

TrojanDownloader:PowerShell/Socks.PS!MTB (MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

This Trojan 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: 14,415 bytes
File Type: PS1
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Jul 2023
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

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

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
socks_powershell = Powershell.exe -windowstyle hidden -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File {Malware location}

Other Details

This Trojan does the following:

  • This Trojan creates a SOCKS5 connection to the following host:
    • https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}. 196
      • Attempts to connect every 180 seconds.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 18.552.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 06 Jul 2023
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 18.553.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 07 Jul 2023

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

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
    • socks_powershell = Powershell.exe -windowstyle hidden -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File {Malware location}

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.PS1.POWLOAD.TIAOENV. 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:


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