Analysis by: Karen Ivy Titiwa
ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Qakbot!MTB(MICROSOFT); RDN/Qakbot(NAI)

 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 201,216 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Feb 2021
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs

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 processes:

  • %Windows%\explorer.exe (%System%\mobsync.exe or %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe if not found)
  • %System%\schtasks.exe /Create /RU "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" /tn {Random characters} /tr "regsvr32.exe -s \"{Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.dll\"" /SC ONCE /Z /ST {Time} /ET {Time}
  • whoami /all
  • cmd /c set
  • arp -a
  • ipconfig /all
  • net view /all
  • nslookup -querytype=ALL -timeout=10 _ldap._tcp.dc._msdcs.WORKGROUP
  • nltest /domain_trusts /all_trusts
  • net share
  • %System%\net1 share
  • route print
  • netstat -nao
  • net localgroup
  • %System%\net1 localgroup
  • qwinsta

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It injects itself into the following processes running in the affected system's memory:

  • %System Root%\explorer.exe
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Information Theft

Upon execution of the affected application, it gathers the following information:

  • Hardware information
  • Operating system information
  • Processor information
  • Installed antivirus products
  • Running processes
  • Computer name
  • User name
  • IP address

Stolen Information

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

  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.236.101:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.236.99:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.208.140:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.150.98:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.52.111:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.123.244:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.4:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.101.62:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.49.12:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.227.86:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.38.185:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.38.185:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.38.185:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.101.90:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.101.90:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.101.90:8443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.101.90:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.98.196:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.98.196:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.98.196:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.97:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.97:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.97:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}..102.42:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.82.200:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.30.215:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.157.235:3389
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.10.71:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.165.101:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.70.12:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.161.85:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.14.130:22
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.122.72:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.151.167:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.128.253:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.63.105:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.115.207:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.7.9:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.91.154:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.221.184:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.252.84:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}..154.132:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.110.165:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.217:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.5.175:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.95.254:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.210.27:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.138.162:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.195.67:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.116.237:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.116.237:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.116.237:8443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.116.237:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.77.75:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.77.75:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.77.75:8443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.77.75:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.187.52:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.158:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.54.140:32100
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.219.253:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.61.153:2078
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.2.216:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.2.218:993
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.92.142:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.69.207:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.66:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.16.179:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.54:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.11.207:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.11.207:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.11.207:8443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.11.207:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.3.140:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.07.192:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.07.192:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.07.192:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.208:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.208:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.208:8443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.208:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.53:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.169.85:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.8.187:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.48.6:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.112.106:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.66.232:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.8.164:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.87:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.206.193:993
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}..75:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.192.69:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.77:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.179.70:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.39.10:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.130.172:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.132.169:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.10.199:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.142.63:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.170.235:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.126.250:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.2.34:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.242.138:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.200.181:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.201.69:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.44.202:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.37.11:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.147:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.40.155:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.92.125:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.128.194:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.42.196:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.00.148:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.74.49:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.32:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.68.18:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.07.104:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.121.81:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.252.62:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.85.24:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.5.70:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.9.64:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.54.62:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.54.100:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.7.211:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.108.181:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.12.140:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.248.121:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.252.202:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.5.226:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.111:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.93.144:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.133:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.77.68:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.3.124:2078
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.91.244:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.211.239:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.8.238:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.88.99:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.5.196:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.2.42:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.7.6:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.23.148:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.17.140:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.127.13:995
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.13.36:993
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.4:2222
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.21.115:443
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.187.78:443

Other Details

This Trojan Spy does the following:

  • It attempts to create a pipe for communication.
  • It checks the presence of the following Anti-Virus and Security Applications:
    • ccSvcHst.exe
    • avgcsrvx.exe
    • avgsvcx.exe
    • avgcsrva.exe
    • MsMpEng.exe
    • mcshield.exe
    • avp.exe
    • kavtray.exe
    • egui.exe
    • ekrn.exe
    • bdagent.exe
    • vsserv.exe
    • vsservppl.exe
    • AvastSvc.exe
    • coreServiceShell.exe
    • PccNTMon.exe
    • NTRTScan.exe
    • SAVAdminService.exe
    • SavService.exe
    • fshoster32.exe
    • WRSA.exe
    • vkise.exe
    • isesrv.exe
    • cmdagent.exe
    • ByteFence.exe
    • MBAMService.exe
    • mbamgui.exe
    • fmon.exe
  • It checks for the following strings in its filename:
    • artifact.exe
    • mlwr_smpl
    • sample
    • sandbox
    • cuckoo-
    • virus
  • It checks for the following processes in the affected system's memory:
    • srvpost.exe
    • frida-winjector-helper-32.exe
    • frida-winjector-helper-64.exe
  • It terminates itself when executed in the following Virtual Environments:
    • A3E64E55_pr
    • VBoxVideo
    • Red Hat VirtIO
    • QEMU
    • VIRTUAL-PC
    • Virtual

It adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Task name: {Random characters}
    Trigger: One-time
    Action: Start a program: {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.dll

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 16.582.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 08 Mar 2021
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 16.583.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 09 Mar 2021

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.XXPE50FFF042

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

Deleting Scheduled Tasks

The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below:

  • Task name: {Random characters}
    Action: Start a program: {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.dll

For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:

  1. Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
    System Tools>Scheduled Tasks.
  2. Locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
  3. Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
  4. Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the listed {Task to be run}.
  5. If the strings match the list above, delete the task.

For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:

  1. Open the Windows Task Scheduler. To do this:
    • On Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008, click Start, type taskschd.msc in the Search input field, then press Enter.
    • On Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type taskschd.msc, then press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
  3. In the upper-middle panel, locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
  4. In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the {Task to be run} string.
  5. If the said string is found, delete the task.

Step 6

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