PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 258,048 bytes
File Type: DLL
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Jun 2020

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.

Installation

This Trojan adds the following processes:

  • "%System Root%\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" -Embedding
  • "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" SCODEF:1776 CREDAT:275457 /prefetch:2
  • %System%\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceAndNoImpersonation

(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000(32-bit), Server 2003(32-bit), XP, Vista(64-bit), 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit) , or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP(64-bit), Vista(64-bit), 7(64-bit), 8(64-bit), 8.1(64-bit), 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E}\NewInstallPromptCount

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E}\CompatBlockPromptCount

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43}\NewInstallPromptCount

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43}\CompatBlockPromptCount

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{DBC80044-A445-435B-BC74-9C25C1C588A9}\NewInstallPromptCount

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\
Settings\{DBC80044-A445-435B-BC74-9C25C1C588A9}\CompatBlockPromptCount

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{06F184E3-51E8-11EA-9282-005056BC3F5C}.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\RecoveryStore.{06F184E1-51E8-11EA-9282-005056BC3F5C}.dat

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

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://go.{BLOCKED}oft.com
  • http://api.{BLOCKED}g.com
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}g.com

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850

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

Identify and terminate files detected as Trojan.Win32.WACATAC.THFADBO

[ 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 3

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.
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\{06F184E3-51E8-11EA-9282-005056BC3F5C}.dat
  • %AppDataLocal%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Recovery\High\Active\RecoveryStore.{06F184E1-51E8-11EA-9282-005056BC3F5C}.dat

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.Win32.WACATAC.THFADBO. 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 5

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E}
    • NewInstallPromptCount
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E}
    • CompatBlockPromptCount
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43}
    • NewInstallPromptCount
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43}
    • CompatBlockPromptCount
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{DBC80044-A445-435B-BC74-9C25C1C588A9}
    • NewInstallPromptCount
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{DBC80044-A445-435B-BC74-9C25C1C588A9}
    • CompatBlockPromptCount


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.