Analysis by: Arianne Grace Dela Cruz
ALIASES:

HEUR:Trojan-Dropper.MSIL.Scrop.gen (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Backdoor 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: 1,245,184 bytes
File Type: ISO
Initial Samples Received Date: 02 Sep 2019

Arrival Details

This Backdoor 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 Backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\Boot\dxdiag.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\Logs
  • %Application Data%\Boot

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

Autostart Technique

This Backdoor drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  • %User Startup%\ap2tECng.url

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 2003(32-bit), XP and 2000(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit), 10(64-bit).)

Other System Modifications

This Backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Newpeople-XAURAL

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Newpeople-XAURAL
exepath = "{random characters}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Newpeople-XAURAL
licence = "0FD660964BEBCF03EE1AEC625EBDD980"

Dropping Routine

This Backdoor drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\Boot\By9D0A7g.vbs
  • %System Root%\BVTBin\Tests\installpackage\csilogfile.log
  • %Application Data%\Logs\loggs.dat

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

Other Details

This Backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://rownip.{BLOCKED}s.net
  • http://rownip.{BLOCKED}ties.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.342.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 03 Sep 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.343.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 04 Sep 2019

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Newpeople-XAURAL
    • exepath = {random characters}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Newpeople-XAURAL
    • licence = 0FD660964BEBCF03EE1AEC625EBDD980

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %Application Data%\Boot\By9D0A7g.vbs
  • %System Root%\BVTBin\Tests\installpackage\csilogfile.log
  • %Application Data%\Logs\loggs.dat

Step 6

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.
  • %Application Data%\Logs
  • %Application Data%\Boot

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Backdoor.MSIL.REMCOS.ANS. 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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