Analysis by: Mc Justine De Guzman
ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Qakbot.GQ!MTB(MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan Spy

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 271,872 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 04 Nov 2020
Payload: Drops files, Connects to URLs/IPs, Terminates processes

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:

  • {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.dat
  • %User Temp%\~{Malware File Name}.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(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 characters}\{Random characters}.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 ? To check if it is being run in a virtual environment.
  • {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe /W
  • %Windows%\explorer.exe (%System%\mobsync.exe or %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe if not found)
  • %System%\schtasks.exe /create /tn {GUID} /tr "\"{Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe\"" /sc HOURLY /mo 5 /F
  • %System%\cmd.exe /c ping.exe -n 6 127.0.0.1 & type "%System%\calc.exe" > "{Malware Filepath}\{Malware File Name}" ? Overwriting itself with calc.exe

(Note: %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}

It terminates itself if it finds the following processes in the affected system's memory:

  • Fiddler.exe
  • samp1e.exe
  • sample.exe
  • runsample.exe
  • lordpe.exe
  • regshot.exe
  • Autoruns.exe
  • dsniff.exe
  • VBoxTray.exe
  • HashMyFiles.exe
  • ProcessHacker.exe
  • Procmon.exe
  • Procmon64.exe
  • netmon.exe
  • vmtoolsd.exe
  • vm3dservice.exe
  • VGAuthService.exe
  • pr0c3xp.exe
  • ProcessHacker.exe
  • CFF Explorer.exe
  • dumpcap.exe
  • Wireshark.exe
  • idaq.exe
  • idaq64.exe
  • TPAutoConnect.exe
  • ResourceHacker.exe
  • vmacthlp.exe
  • OLLYDBG.EXE
  • windbg.exe
  • bds-vision-agent-nai.exe
  • bds-vision-apis.exe
  • bds-vision-agent-app.exe
  • MultiAnalysis_v1.0.294.exe
  • x32dbg.exe
  • VBoxTray.exe
  • VBoxService.exe
  • Tcpview.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{Random Characters} = {Malware File Path}\{Malware Filename}.exe

Process Termination

This Trojan Spy terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • Microsoftedge.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:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.158.61:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.107.192:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.154.10:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.160.116:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.107.192:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.107.192:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.242.138;0;465
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.176.32:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.223.148:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.39.147:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.13.128:8443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.209.42:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.8.10:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.105.194:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.69.242:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.87.107:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.40.155:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.3.6:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.145.30:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.181.98:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.42.12:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.161.32:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.223:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.97:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.16.80:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.155.12:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.97:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.99.97:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.130.172:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.252.177:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.112.10:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.238:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.9.69:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.100.129:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.25.63:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.1.237:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.36.241:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.155.12:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.198.161:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.27.132:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.165.134:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.104.123:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.70.216:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.38.31:993/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.29:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.24.21:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.127:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.220:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.13.151:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.60.189:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.103.146:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.227.86:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.221.232:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.50.62:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.119:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.132.233:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.174.49:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.116.226:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.247.224:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.189.64:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.155.12:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.162.253:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.22.145:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.202.234:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.97.227:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.141.42:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.211.239:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.56.171:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.255.159:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.217.98:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.206.170:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.5.157:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.244.118:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.191.27:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.18.250:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.47.123:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.96.164:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.152.231:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.144.238:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.227.124:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.151.218:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.238.30:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.32.167:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.17.223:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.191.38;0;0
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.247.242:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.204.240:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.75.201:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.149.212:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.193.83:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.178:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.204.189:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.33.182:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.112.234:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.59.46:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.8.10:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.89.245:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.35.237:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.96.127;0;990
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.112.197:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.119.125:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.49;0;2078
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.47.70:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.177.152:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.231.35:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.207.104:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.227.208:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.223.253:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.15.10:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.39.108:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.76:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.136.237:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.14.130;0;22
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.234.36:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.216.202:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.69:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.35.201:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.16.93:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.2.92:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.7.143:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.195.67:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.19.192:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.106:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.199.79:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.32.182:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.42.241:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.160.110:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.219.88:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.208.68:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.189.105:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.234.132:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.21.66:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.32.224:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.154.100:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.140.236:80/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.125.94:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.252.243:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.26.41:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.88.59:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.27.6:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.142.48:995/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.219.143:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.1.164:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.55.77:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.173.134:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.10.71:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.67.0:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.65.191:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.52.142:443/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.220.196:2222/t3
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.196:2222/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 checks the presence of the following Anti-Virus and Security Applications:
    • ccSvcHst.exe
    • avgcsrvx.exe
    • vgsvcx.exe
    • avgcsrva.exe
    • MsMpEng.exe
    • mcshield.exe
    • avp.exe
    • egui.exe
    • ekrn.exe
    • bdagent.exe
    • vsserv.exe
    • vsservppl.exe
    • AvastSvc.exe
    • coreServiceShell.exe
    • PccNTMon.exe
    • NTRTScan.exe
    • SAVAdminService.exe
    • SavService.exe
    • fshoster32.exe
    • WRSA.exe
    • vkise.exe
    • isesrv.exe
    • cmdagent.exe
    • ByteFence.exe
    • MBAMService.exe
    • fmon.exe
    • bamgui.exe
  • 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 the presence of the following network capturing tools:
    • tcpdump.exe
    • windump.exe
    • ethereal.exe
    • wireshark.exe
    • ettercap.exe
    • rtsniff.exe
    • packetcapture.exe
    • capturenet.exe
  • It attempts to drop copies of itself to other machines in the same network via IPC$ shares.
  • It terminates itself when executed in the following Virtual Environments:
    • Virtual HD
    • Red Hat
    • QEMU
    • CWSandbox
    • VirtualBox
    • VMWare

It adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Task name: {GUID}
    Trigger: Every 5 hours
    Action: Start a program: {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.exe
  • Task name: {Random characters}
    Trigger: One-time
    Action: Start a program: {Malware Filepath}\{Malware filename} /I {Random characters}

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 16.358.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 18 Nov 2020
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 16.359.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 19 Nov 2020

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.XXPE50FFF038

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 5

Deleting Scheduled Tasks

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

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 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.

HKEY_CURENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{Random Characters} = {Malware File Path}\{Malware Filename}.exe

Step 7

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • {Malware File Path}\{Malware File Name}.dat
  • %User Temp%\~{Malware File Name}.tmp

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.QAKBOT.YEAK-A. 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.

Step 9

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TrojanSpy.Win32.QAKBOT.YEAK-A. 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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