TrojanSpy.Win32.QAKBOT.TIGOCEH
Trojan:Win32/Qakbot.VD!Cert (MICROSOFT); W32/GenKryptik.EQEC!tr (FORTINET)
Windows
Threat Type: Trojan Spy
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Trojan Spy arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This Trojan Spy 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 Spy drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.dat
- %User Temp%\~{File name that ran explorer.exe}.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(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).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.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 adds the following processes:
- {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe /C
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe /C
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe /W
- %Windows%\explorer.exe (%System%\mobsync.exe or %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe if not found)
- %System%\schtasks.exe /create /tn {Random ID} /tr "\"%Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe\"" /sc HOURLY /mo 5 /F
- %System%\schtasks.exe /Create /RU "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" /tn {Random characters} /tr "\"{Malware Filepath}\{Malware Filename}\" /I {Random characters}" /SC ONCE /Z /ST {Time} /ET {Time}
(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).. %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).)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
- Global\{GUID}
Autostart Technique
This Trojan Spy adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{Random characters} = %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe
Information Theft
Upon execution of the affected application, it gathers the following information:
- Operating System Information
- Processor Information
- Installed Anti-Virus Products
- Running Processes
- Computer Name
- User Name
- IP Address
Stolen Information
This Trojan Spy sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.195.237:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.164.182:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.173.223:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.250.74:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.231.40:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.63.89:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.3.41:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.125.94:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.89.47:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.145.30:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.130.83:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.224.117:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.37.3:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.25.197:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.130.19:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.47.123:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.51.2:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.102.42:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.81.220:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.37:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.217.248:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.224.213:993/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.64.172:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.200.94:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.180.194:2078/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.80.243:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.134.226:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.115.89:2078/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.72.199:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.152.231:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.7.235:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.131.155:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.167.91:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.233.135:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.109.243:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.173.34:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.70.18:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.106.206:20/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.106.206:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.216:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.82.104:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.67.205:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.3.226:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.44.2:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.16.80:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.22.145:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.35.196:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.50.153:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.70.49:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.231.21:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.254.177:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.3.56:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216.245:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.122.51:2078/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.107.111:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.161.8:993/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.122.217:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.158:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.110.181:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.112.13:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.228.88:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.132.70:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.86.201:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.142.213:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.28.247:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.180.247:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.1.66:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.160.50:61201/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.89.38:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.65.191:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.41.66:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.32.175:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.82:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.177.171:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.217.98:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.50.188:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.84.129:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.178.241:2078/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.113.55:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.9.141:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.165.255:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.219.199:53/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.228.130:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.157:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.92.147:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.43.93:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.206.193:993/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.195.198:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.62.74:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.103.21:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.193.239:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.152.98:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.160.40:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.37.211:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.27.48:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.179.70:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.239.10:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.92.175:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.76.75:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.37.205:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.39.91:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.224.206:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.142.63:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.44.92:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.126.250:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.191.200:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.12.34:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.16.211:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.106.198:465/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.101.70:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.242.138:6881/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.55.195:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.200.181:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.220:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.232.166:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.1.246:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.148.209:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.219.145:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.204.82:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.237.11:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.250.89:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.40.155:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.214.87:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.171.155:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.182.228:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.128.194:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.12.181:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.173.8:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.178:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.234.36:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.176.32:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.157:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.238.30:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.55.190:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.234.245:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.146.204:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.35.196:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.79:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.241.189:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.109.181:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.144.238:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.108.17:2222/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.20.230:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.170.82:2078/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.104:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.77.197:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.187.85:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.50.62:995/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.27.199:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.112.165:443/t3
- https://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.221.117:443/t3
Other Details
This Trojan Spy connects to the following URL(s) to get the affected system's IP address:
- http://www.ip-adress.com
It does the following:
- It attempts to drop copies of itself to other machines in the same network via IPC$ shares.
- It terminates itself if the following DLL is loaded on its memory:
- ivm-inject.dll
- SbieDll.dll
- It terminates itself if its filename is one of the following:
- sample
- mlwr_smpl
- artifact.exe
- It checks for the presence of the following antivirus and security applications:
- ccSvcHst.exe
- avgcsrvx.exe
- avgsvcx.exe
- avgcsrva.exe
- MsMpEng.exe
- mcshield.exe
- avp.exe
- kavtray.exe
- egui.exe
- ekrn.exe
- bdagent.exe
- vsserv.exe
- vsservppl.exe
- AvastSvc.exe
- coreServiceShell.exe
- PccNTMon.exe
- NTRTScan.exe
- SAVAdminService.exe
- SavService.exe
- fhoster32.exe
- WRSA.exe
- vkise.exe
- isesrv.exe
- cmdagent.exe
- ByteFence.exe
- MBAMService.exe
- mbamgui.exe
- fmon.exe
- Checks if the following processes are running:
- tcpdump.exe
- windump.exe
- ethereal.exe
- wireshark.exe
- ettercap.exe
- rtsniff.exe
- packetcapture.exe
- capturenet.exe
However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.
It adds the following scheduled tasks:
- Task name: {Random ID}
- Trigger: Every 5 hours
- Task to be run: %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe
- Task name: {Random characters}
- Trigger: One-time
- Task to be run: {Malware Filepath}\{Malware filename} /I {Random characters}
(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).)
SOLUTION
Step 1
Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:
- Troj.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FFF036
Step 2
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 3
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 4
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 5
Deleting Scheduled Tasks
The following {Task Name} - {Task to be run} listed should be used in the steps identified below:
- Task name: {Random ID}
- Task to be run: %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe
- Task name: {Random characters}
- Task to be run: {Malware Filepath}\{Malware filename} /I {Random characters}
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 6
Delete this registry value
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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- {Random characters} = %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe
- {Random characters} = %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe
Step 7
Search and delete this file
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{Random characters}\{Random characters}.dat
- %User Temp%\~{File name that ran explorer.exe}.tmp
- %Application Data%\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.QAKBOT.TIGOCEH. 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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