Analysis by: Mohammed Malubay

ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/EmotetCrypt.SS!MTB(MICROSOFT); Trojan-Banker.Emotet(IKARUS);

 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

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet

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.

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 239,104 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 28 Dec 2020
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information

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 adds the following folders:

  • %System%\{4 random letters} → if executed with administrative rights
  • %AppDataLocal%\{4 random letters} → if executed without administrative rights

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %System%\{4 random letters}\{random letters}.{3 random letters} → if executed with administrative rights
  • %AppDataLocal%\{4 random letters}\{random letters}.{3 random letters} → if executed without administrative rights

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

  • %System%\rundll32.exe "%System%\{4 random letters}\{random letters}.{3 random letters}",RunDLL → if executed with administrative rights
  • %System%\rundll32.exe "%AppDataLocal%\{4 random letters}\{random letters}.{3 random letters}",RunDLL → if executed without administrative rights

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It executes then deletes itself afterward.

Autostart Technique

This Trojan Spy starts the following services:

  • Service name: {{filename}.{filepath} of copy}
    • Executes: %System%\rundll32.exe "%System%\{4 random letters}\{random letters}.{3 random letters}",RunDLL

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

Propagation

This Trojan Spy does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan Spy does not have any backdoor routine.

Rootkit Capabilities

This Trojan Spy does not have rootkit capabilities.

Information Theft

This Trojan Spy gathers the following data:

  • Computer Name
  • OS Version
  • Running Processes
  • Processor Architecture

Stolen Information

This Trojan Spy sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.18.83/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.222.40/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.148.58:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.18.93:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.65.61/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.100.37/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.9.160/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.169.32:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.2:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.84.2:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.190.86/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.190.199:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.170/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.210/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.175.132/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.29.49/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.111.249:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.7.151/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.153.115/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.247.169/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.165.160:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.74.198/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.54.208:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.4.210:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.141:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.234.118:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.243.186/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.2.95:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.108/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.196.173:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.253.194:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.237.140:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.58.37:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.160.38:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.21.32:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.177.210:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.253.80:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.7.145/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.248.239:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.167.10/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.45.66:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.35.138:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.233.254/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.4.238/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.72.142:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.16.47/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.233.198/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.42:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.254.163:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.84.74:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.140:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.170.114:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.229.53:4143/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.75.50/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216.135/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.137:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.130.105:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.229.54:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.111.212:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.174/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.230.173:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.84.243:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.248.237/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.22.67/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.106.111:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.6.118/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.182.143/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.136:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.51.143:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.7:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.48.2/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.12.222:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.130.105:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.32.231:7080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.252.27:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.208.58/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.80.88/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.46.107:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.23.45:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.61.163:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.41.185:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.129.227:8090/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.103.73/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.13.184:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.226.117:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.250.23:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.112.146/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.23.51/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.228.233/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216.100/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.235.113:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.106.14:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.88.186:443/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.110.192/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.12.221:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.62.86/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.115.157:8080/{random characters}
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.49/{random characters}

Other Details

This Trojan Spy does the following:

  • It creates the service for persistence if the sample is executed with administrative privileges, otherwise it does not have any persistence.

NOTES:

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 16.444.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 29 Dec 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 16.445.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 30 Dec 2020

Step 1

Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:

  • Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF039

Step 2

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 3

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 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services
    • {{filename}.{filepath} of copy}

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.
  • %System%\{4 random letters}\{random letters}.{3 random letters}
  • %AppDataLocal%\{4 random letters}\{random letters}.{3 random letters}

Step 7

Search and delete this folder

[ 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.
  • %System%\{4 random letters}
  • %AppDataLocal%\{4 random letters}

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.EMOTET.TIOIBOLI. 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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.