Analysis by: Maureen Reyes

ALIASES:

MSIL/Kryptik.JAJ!tr (Fortinet), Trojan-FGZT!5535C5E553EC (McAfee), Backdoor.Bot (Malwarebytes)

 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: 575,144 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 18 Jul 2018

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 files:

  • %Application Data%\remcos\remcos.exe
  • %Application Data%\remcos\logs.dat
  • %Application Data%\{Random Values}\run.dat
  • %Application Data%\{Random Values}\task.dat
  • %Application Data%\{Random Values}\Logs\{username}\KB_{Random Numbers}.dat
  • %Program Files%\PCI Service\pcisv.exe
  • %User Temp%\backdoor.exe
  • %User Temp%\start.exe
  • %User Temp%\install.bat
  • %User Temp%\{temp file}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\{temp file}.tmp

(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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), 7 (32-bit), and 8 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), 7 (64-bit), and 8 (64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It adds the following processes:

  • %User Temp%\backdoor.exe
  • %User Temp%\start.exe
  • %Application Data%\remcos\remcos.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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
remcos = "%Application Data%\remcos\remcos.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
remcos = "%Application Data%\remcos\remcos.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
PCI Service = "%Program Files%\PCI Service\pcisv.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Backdoor deletes the following files:

  • %User Temp%\install.bat
  • %User Temp%\{temp file}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\{temp file}.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, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\remcos_ppnvbenvtv

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\remcos_ppnvbenvtv
EXEpath = "{Hex Values}"

Other Details

This Backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • delinger.{BLOCKED}s.org:6653

It adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Task Name:PCIService Task
    Task Trigger: NONE
    %Program Files%\PCI Service\pcisv.exe
  • Task Name:PCIService
    Task Trigger: NONE
    %User Temp%\start.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), 7 (32-bit), and 8 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), 7 (64-bit), and 8 (64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, and 8.)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 14.436.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 11 Aug 2018
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 14.437.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 12 Aug 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 BKDR_REMCOS.TICOGCA

[ 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

Deleting Scheduled Tasks

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

  • Task Name:PCIService Task
  • Task Trigger: NONE
  • %Program Files%\PCI Service\pcisv.exe
  • Task Name:PCIService
  • Task Trigger: NONE
  • %User Temp%\start.exe

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 5

Delete this registry key

[ 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
    • remcos_ppnvbenvtv

Step 6

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\remcos_ppnvbenvtv
    • EXEpath = "{Hex Values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • remcos = "%Application Data%\remcos\remcos.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • remcos = "%Application Data%\remcos\remcos.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • PCI Service = "%Program Files%\PCI Service\pcisv.exe"

Step 7

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.
  • %Application Data%\remcos\remcos.exe
  • %Application Data%\remcos\logs.dat
  • %Application Data%\{Random Values}\run.dat
  • %Application Data%\{Random Values}\task.dat
  • %Application Data%\{Random Values}\Logs\{username}\KB_{Random Numbers}.dat
  • %Program Files%\PCI Service\pcisv.exe
  • %User Temp%\backdoor.exe
  • %User Temp%\start.exe
  • %User Temp%\install.bat
  • %User Temp%\{temp file}.tmp
  • %User Temp%\{temp file}.tmp

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_REMCOS.TICOGCA. 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:


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