Analysis by: Francesca Villasanta
ALIASES:

UDS:Trojan-Spy.MSIL.Stealer.gen (KASPERSKY) ; Trojan:MSIL/RedLineStealer.EM!MTB (MICROSOFT)

 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, Dropped by other malware

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: 594,944 bytes
File Type: HTML, HTM
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 07 Jun 2023
Payload: Deletes files, Drops files, Modifies system registry

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:

  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\x8308521.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\i4868932.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\x9254183.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\h3221436.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\f6850097.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\g0422948.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It adds the following processes:

  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\x8308521.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\x9254183.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\f6850097.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
wextract_cleanup0 = rundll32.exe %System%\advpack.dll,DelNodeRunDLL32 "%User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
wextract_cleanup1 = rundll32.exe %System%\advpack.dll,DelNodeRunDLL32 "%User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
wextract_cleanup2 = rundll32.exe %System%\advpack.dll,DelNodeRunDLL32 "%User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan Spy deletes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 18.493.00
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 06 Jun 2023
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 18.493.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 07 Jun 2023

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.XXPE50FSX035

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 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • wextract_cleanup0 = rundll32.exe %System%\advpack.dll,DelNodeRunDLL32 "%User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • wextract_cleanup1 = rundll32.exe %System%\advpack.dll,DelNodeRunDLL32 "%User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
    • wextract_cleanup2 = rundll32.exe %System%\advpack.dll,DelNodeRunDLL32 "%User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\"

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%\IXP000.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\x8308521.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP\i4868932.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\x9254183.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP\h3221436.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\TMP4351$.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\f6850097.exe
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP\g0422948.exe

Step 7

Search and delete these folders

[ 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.
  • %User Temp%\IXP000.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP001.TMP
  • %User Temp%\IXP002.TMP

Step 8

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