Analysis by: Jay Bradley Nebre

ALIASES:

Trojan.Win32.Vimditator.acfp(Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

This malware is part of the newly discovered BLACKSQUID malware family that targets web servers, network drives, and removable drives using multiple web server exploits and dictionary attacks.

This Worm arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It takes advantage of certain vulnerabilities.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 6,192,640 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 27 May 2019
Payload: Connects to URLs/IPs, Modifies system registry, Exploits known vulnerabilities, Bruteforce login SQL servers

Arrival Details

This Worm 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 Worm drops the following files:

  • %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe - detected as Coinminer.Win64.TOOLXMR.AS
  • {Malware Path}\WebServer\Blacksquid.txt - copy of itself
  • {Malware Path}\WebServer\hta.hta - contains html and powershell code to download a copy of itself
  • %ProgramData%\S.exe - encrypted file that was renamed to %ProgramData%\445.exe after decryption
  • %ProgramData%\445.exe - detected as TROJ_EQUATED.J. This is used for EternalBlue and DoublePulsar exploit
  • C:\important\important.exe - copy of itself

It adds the following processes:

  • %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe -o stratum+tcp://{BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKED}l.com:80 -u 44f3Gk4zcTvR4e8PTaYEEpJfhj8FpvnxbHADmAiiQFLeMTAzvN1Xavn3VHHNP8n4ob3WJ77KbzcQaCgGYSofCwpSQQkCW9G -p x --max-cpu-usage=25 -K
  • C:\147159.exe

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • wfcwfwwxwcvrbedbew

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe

Other System Modifications

This Worm adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\BlacksquidXmr
CPUming = {data from VersionUpdate}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\BlacksquidXmr
Update = Updated

Other Details

This Worm does the following:

  • Deletes Logs
    • C:\Windows\SysWOW64\rserver30\Radm_log.htm
    • Event log - Application
    • Event log - Security
    • Event log - System
  • Deletes registry keys
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\RealVNC\vncviewer\KnownHosts
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\RealVNC\vncviewer\MRU
  • Adds a process - C:\Windows\System32\taskkill.exe /f /im %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe
  • Tries to download and execute a file from {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.0.1:8080\VersionUpdate
  • Checks if current process is current in a 64bit architecture
    • if not, terminate
    • if yes, check the Videocard if NVIDIA or AMD
      • If NVIDIA
        • checks for a process named ickmk.exe and terminate it if found
        • Download from http://m9f.oss-cn-beijing.{BLOCKED}cs.com/A.exe and save it as %ProgramData%\ickmk.exe
        • Create a process: %ProgramData%\ickmk.exe ostratum+tcp://{BLOCKED}e.{BLOCKED}l.com:80 -u 44f3Gk4zcTvR4e8PTaYEEpJfhj8FpvnxbHADmAiiQFLeMTAzvN1Xavn3VHHNP8n4ob3WJ77KbzcQaCgGYSofCwpSQQkCW9G -p x --donate-level=0 --cuda-max-threads=2 --donate-level=0 --cuda-max-threads=2
      • If AMD
        • the same behavior as when the videocard is NVIDIA
  • Checks for the presence of removable and network drives
    • drops a copy of itself named 12345689.exe to the drive found
    • if found, drop and execute %System Root%\147159.exe - detected as Trojan.Win32.CVE20178464.A
    • then move all files dropped by %System Root%\147159.exe from %System Root%\cve to the drive found
    • deletes %System Root%\147159.exe afterwards
  • Checks for the following folders
    • C:\inetpub\
    • C:\xampp\
    • C:\wamp\
    • C:\phpStudy\PHPTutorial\WWW\
    • then infect all html files from these folders with a malicious iframe that executes C:\important\important.exe
  • Uses the following to try to bruteforce login SQLservers:
    • sa
    • users
    • wwo
    • kisadmin
    • hbv7
    • www
    • vice
    • su
    • sa123
    • v39 = 0;
    • sa
    • 1
    • 123
    • 321
    • 123456
    • 12345678
    • 112233
    • 147258
    • vice
    • password
    • 1qaz@WSX3edc
    • 123456789
    • 666666
    • 888888
    • 66666666
    • 88888888
    • 1111111
    • 11111111111
    • saadmin
    • P@ssword
    • pa$$w0rd
    • sysadm
    • 119119
    • admin123!@#
    • Admin@123
    • !@#$%^
    • Admin123
    • vice_1433 vice
    • Password123
    • bw99588399
    • !QAZ2wsx
    • Sa123456
    • sa@123
    • ifuckyounow
    • password01!
    • yto_admin
    • star
    • pass@word1
    • 8ik,9ol.
    • zXJl@mwZ
    • 1qaz2wsx
    • qazwsx
    • qwertyuiop
    • \"vice_1433 vice\"
    • sql
    • sql&2008
    • sql&2012
    • 123qwe!@#QWE
    • !@#qwe123
    • abc123
    • a1b2c3
    • 123123
    • 123321
    • 789789
    • admin123
    • admin999
    • zh@123456
  • Uses different exploits for propagation

It takes advantage of the following vulnerabilities:

It adds the following scheduled tasks:

  • Task Name: NVIDIA GeForce Experience
    Action: Start a program - {malware path}\{malware name}.exe

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.850
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.136.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 27 May 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.137.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 28 May 2019

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

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 Worm.Win32.BLASQUI.A

[ 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

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • NVIDIA GeForce Experience = {malware path}\{malware name}.exe

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BlacksquidXmr
    • CPUming = {data from VersionUpdate}
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\BlacksquidXmr
    • Update = Updated

Step 6

Deleting Scheduled Tasks

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

  • Task Name - NVIDIA GeForce Experience
  • Task to be run - {malware path}\{malware name}.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 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.
  • %ProgramData%\qkooy.exe
  • {Malware Path}\WebServer\Blacksquid.txt
  • {Malware Path}\WebServer\hta.hta
  • %ProgramData%\S.exe
  • %ProgramData%\445.exe
  • C:\important\important.exe

Step 8

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Worm.Win32.BLASQUI.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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