Analysis by: Pearl Charlaine Espejo
 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Spyware

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Via email

This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It does not have any backdoor routine.

It does not drop any other file.

It does not have any downloading capability.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 356,047 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 08 Jan 2016
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

This spyware arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

Installation

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

  • %Application Data%\{random folder name}\{random characters}.exe

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

It adds the following processes:

  • svchost.exe

It injects codes into the following process(es):

  • created svchost.exe

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random folder name} = "%Application Data%\{random folder name}\{random characters}.exe"

Other System Modifications

This spyware adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
0 = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\0
0 = "0"

Propagation

This spyware does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This spyware does not have any backdoor routine.

Dropping Routine

This spyware drops the following files:

  • %Application Data%\{random folder name}\{random characters}.lck - deleted afterwards

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

It does not drop any other file.

Download Routine

This spyware does not have any downloading capability.

Information Theft

This spyware attempts to steal stored account information used in the following installed File Transfer Protocol (FTP) clients or file manager software:

  • 32BitFtp
  • 9bis.com KiTTY
  • AbleFTP
  • Automize
  • BitKinex
  • Cyberduck
  • DeluxeFTP
  • EasyFTP
  • Estsoft ALFTP
  • ExpanDrive
  • FTP Navigator
  • FTP Now
  • FTPBox
  • FTPGetter
  • FTPInfo
  • FTPShell
  • Far Manager
  • Fastream NETFile
  • FileZilla
  • FlashFXP
  • FlashPeak BlazeFtp
  • FreshWebmaster FreshFTP
  • Ghisler Total Commander
  • GoFTP
  • INSoftware NovaFTP
  • Ipswitch WS_FTP
  • JaSFtp
  • LinasFTP
  • Martin Prikryl
  • NCH Software ClassicFTP
  • NCH Software Fling
  • NetDrive
  • NetDrive 2
  • NetSarang Xftp
  • NexusFile
  • Notepad++ NppFTP
  • Odin Secure FTP Expert
  • Sherrod Computers Sherrod FTP
  • SimonTatham PuTTY
  • SmartFTP
  • Staff-FTP
  • Steed
  • UltraFXP
  • VanDyke SecureFX
  • WinFTP
  • oZone3D MyFTP

It attempts to steal stored email credentials from the following:

  • DeskSoft CheckMail
  • Flaska.net Trojita
  • FossaMail
  • Foxmail
  • Gmail Notifier Pro
  • IncrediMail
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Opera Mail
  • Poco Systems Pocomail
  • Postbox
  • Softwarenetz Mailing
  • Thunderbird
  • TrulyMail
  • yMail2

It attempts to get stored information such as user names, passwords, and hostnames from the following browsers:

  • 360 Browser
  • 8pecxstudios Cyberfox
  • Apple Safari
  • Baidu Spark
  • Catalina Group Citrio
  • Chromium
  • Coc Coc Browser
  • Comodo Chromodo
  • Comodo Dragon
  • Comodo IceDragon
  • Coowon
  • Epic Privacy Browser
  • Flock
  • Google Chrome
  • Google Chrome SxS
  • Internet Explorer
  • K-Meleon
  • Lunascape 6
  • MapleStudio ChromePlus
  • Moonchild Productions Pale Moon
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Mozilla SeaMonkey
  • Mustang Browser
  • NETGATE Technologies BlackHawk
  • Nichrome
  • Opera Next
  • Opera Stable
  • QtWeb.NET QtWeb Internet Browser
  • QupZilla
  • RockMelt
  • Sleipnir Browser
  • Superbird
  • Titan Browser
  • Torch
  • Vivaldi
  • Yandex Browser

Stolen Information

This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.222.196/lort.php

Other Details

This spyware deletes itself after execution.

NOTES:

This spyware has the capability to steal information from the following "Sticky" related applications:

  • Conceptworld Notezilla
  • Microsoft Sticky Notes
  • NoteFly
  • Stickies
  • To-Do DeskList

It steals information from Poker related accounts:

  • Full Tilt Poker
  • PokerStars
  • Win Chips

It also steals information from the following crypto-currency wallets:

  • Anoncoin
  • Armory
  • AsicCoin
  • Bitcoin
  • BitcoinDark
  • BitShares
  • Blockchain
  • DarkCoin
  • Devcoin
  • Digitalcoin
  • DogeCoin
  • Electrum
  • Feathercoin
  • Infinitecoin
  • Ixcoin
  • Litecoin
  • LottoCoin
  • Monacoin
  • Multibit
  • MultiDoge
  • Namecoin
  • NovaCoin
  • Paycoin
  • PPCoin
  • Primecoin
  • Quarkcoin
  • Terracoin
  • Ufasoft
  • Unobtanium
  • Worldcoin

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 12.244.07
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 31 Dec 2015
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 12.245.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 01 Jan 2016

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

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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random folder name} = "%Application Data%\{random folder name}\{random characters}.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • 0 = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0
    • 0 = "0"

Step 5

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.
  • %Application Data%\{random folder name}\{random characters}.lck

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_LOKI.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.


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