This malware is part of the newly discovered BLACKSQUID malware family that targets web servers, network drives, and removable drives using multiple web server exploits and dictionary attacks.
This Worm arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It takes advantage of certain vulnerabilities.
Arrival Details
This Worm 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 Worm drops the following files:
- %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe - detected as Coinminer.Win64.TOOLXMR.AS
- {Malware Path}\WebServer\Blacksquid.txt - copy of itself
- {Malware Path}\WebServer\hta.hta - contains html and powershell code to download a copy of itself
- %ProgramData%\S.exe - encrypted file that was renamed to %ProgramData%\445.exe after decryption
- %ProgramData%\445.exe - detected as TROJ_EQUATED.J. This is used for EternalBlue and DoublePulsar exploit
- C:\important\important.exe - copy of itself
It adds the following processes:
- %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe -o stratum+tcp://{BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKED}l.com:80 -u 44f3Gk4zcTvR4e8PTaYEEpJfhj8FpvnxbHADmAiiQFLeMTAzvN1Xavn3VHHNP8n4ob3WJ77KbzcQaCgGYSofCwpSQQkCW9G -p x --max-cpu-usage=25 -K
- C:\147159.exe
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
Autostart Technique
This Worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe
Other System Modifications
This Worm adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\BlacksquidXmr
CPUming = {data from VersionUpdate}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\BlacksquidXmr
Update = Updated
Other Details
This Worm does the following:
- Deletes Logs
- C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rserver30\Radm_log.htm
- Event log - Application
- Event log - Security
- Event log - System
- Deletes registry keys
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\RealVNC\vncviewer\KnownHosts
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\RealVNC\vncviewer\MRU
- Adds a process - C:\Windows\System32\taskkill.exe /f /im %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe
- Tries to download and execute a file from {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.0.1:8080\VersionUpdate
- Checks if current process is current in a 64bit architecture
- if not, terminate
- if yes, check the Videocard if NVIDIA or AMD
- If NVIDIA
- checks for a process named ickmk.exe and terminate it if found
- Download from http://m9f.oss-cn-beijing.{BLOCKED}cs.com/A.exe and save it as %ProgramData%\ickmk.exe
- Create a process: %ProgramData%\ickmk.exe ostratum+tcp://{BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKED}l.com:80 -u 44f3Gk4zcTvR4e8PTaYEEpJfhj8FpvnxbHADmAiiQFLeMTAzvN1Xavn3VHHNP8n4ob3WJ77KbzcQaCgGYSofCwpSQQkCW9G -p x --donate-level=0 --cuda-max-threads=2 --donate-level=0 --cuda-max-threads=2
- If AMD
- the same behavior as when the videocard is NVIDIA
- Checks for the presence of removable and network drives
- drops a copy of itself named 12345689.exe to the drive found
- if found, drop and execute %System Root%\147159.exe - detected as Trojan.Win32.CVE20178464.A
- then move all files dropped by %System Root%\147159.exe from %System Root%\cve to the drive found
- deletes %System Root%\147159.exe afterwards
- Checks for the following folders
- C:\inetpub\
- C:\xampp\
- C:\wamp\
- C:\phpStudy\PHPTutorial\WWW\
- then infect all html files from these folders with a malicious iframe that executes C:\important\important.exe
- Uses the following to try to bruteforce login SQLservers:
- sa
- users
- wwo
- kisadmin
- hbv7
- www
- vice
- su
- sa123
- v39 = 0;
- sa
- 1
- 123
- 321
- 123456
- 12345678
- 112233
- 147258
- vice
- password
- 1qaz@WSX3edc
- 123456789
- 666666
- 888888
- 66666666
- 88888888
- 1111111
- 11111111111
- saadmin
- P@ssword
- pa$$w0rd
- sysadm
- 119119
- admin123!@#
- Admin@123
- !@#$%^
- Admin123
- vice_1433 vice
- Password123
- bw99588399
- !QAZ2wsx
- Sa123456
- sa@123
- ifuckyounow
- password01!
- yto_admin
- star
- pass@word1
- 8ik,9ol.
- zXJl@mwZ
- 1qaz2wsx
- qazwsx
- qwertyuiop
- \"vice_1433 vice\"
- sql
- sql&2008
- sql&2012
- 123qwe!@#QWE
- !@#qwe123
- abc123
- a1b2c3
- 123123
- 123321
- 789789
- admin123
- admin999
- zh@123456
- Uses different exploits for propagation
It takes advantage of the following vulnerabilities:
It adds the following scheduled tasks:
- Task Name: NVIDIA GeForce Experience
Action: Start a program - {malware path}\{malware name}.exe
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
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
Identify and terminate files detected as Worm.Win32.BLASQUI.A
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- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
To terminate the malware/grayware/spyware process:
- Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and take note of the name of the malware/grayware/spyware detected.
- Open Windows Task Manager. To do this, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- View the list of all running programs. To do this:
• For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Processes tab.
• For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, click the Details tab. - In the list of running programs, locate a malware/grayware/spyware file detected earlier.
- Select the detected files, then press either the End Task or the End Process button, depending on the version of Windows you are using.
- Do the same for the remaining detected malware/grayware/spyware files in the list of running programs.
- To check if the malware/grayware/spyware process has been terminated, close Task Manager, and then open it again.
- Close Task Manager.
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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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\Run
- NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» For Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Delete this registry key
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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\BlacksquidXmr
- CPUming = {data from VersionUpdate}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BlacksquidXmr
To delete the registry key this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>BlacksquidXmr - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
CPUming = {data from VersionUpdate} - Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
Update = Updated - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
Deleting Scheduled Tasks
The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below: - Task Name - NVIDIA GeForce Experience
- Task to be run - {malware path}\{malware name}.exe
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Open the Windows Scheduled Tasks. Click Start>Programs>Accessories>
System Tools>Scheduled Tasks. - Locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
- Right-click on the said file(s) with the aforementioned value.
- Click on Properties. In the Run field, check for the listed {Task to be run}.
- 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:
- 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. - In the left panel, click Task Scheduler Library.
- In the upper-middle panel, locate each {Task Name} values listed above in the Name column.
- In the lower-middle panel, click the Actions tab. In the Details column, check for the {Task to be run} string.
- If the said string is found, delete the task.
Step 7
Search and delete this file
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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.
- %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe
- {Malware Path}\WebServer\Blacksquid.txt
- {Malware Path}\WebServer\hta.hta
- %ProgramData%\S.exe
- %ProgramData%\445.exe
- C:\important\important.exe
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
•For Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 (R2), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen,then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe
- {Malware Path}\WebServer\Blacksquid.txt
- {Malware Path}\WebServer\hta.hta
- %ProgramData%\S.exe
- %ProgramData%\445.exe
- C:\important\important.exe
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2).
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Worm.Win32.BLASQUI.A. 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:
