Analysis by: Khristian Joseph Morales
ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Lovgate.F@mm (MICROSOFT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 107,008 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 17 Jul 2019

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\WinDriver.exe
  • %System%\WinHelp.exe
  • %System%\winrpc.exe
  • %System%\WinGate.exe
  • %System%\RAVMOND.exe
  • %System%\kernel66.dll
  • %System%\IEXPLORE.EXE

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It drops the following files:

  • %System%\ily668.dll
  • %System%\Task688.dll
  • %System%\reg678.dll

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

It adds the following processes:

  • "%System%\rundll32.exe" ily668.dll ondll_install
  • "%System%\rundll32.exe" ily668.dll ondll_reg

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
run = %System%\RAVMOND.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random string} = %System%\{Dropped copy of itself}

Propagation

This Worm drops copies of itself in the following shared folders:

  • {Shared Folder}\{random string}.exe
  • {Shared Folder}\{random string}.pif

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.800
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 15.240.05
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 17 Jul 2019
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 15.241.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 18 Jul 2019

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.XXPE50FFF030

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

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 NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • run = %System%\RAVMOND.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random string} = %System%\{Dropped copy of itself}

Step 6

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.
  • %System%\WinDriver.exe
  • %System%\WinHelp.exe
  • %System%\winrpc.exe
  • %System%\WinGate.exe
  • %System%\RAVMOND.exe
  • %System%\kernel66.dll
  • %System%\IEXPLORE.EXE
  • %System%\ily668.dll
  • %System%\Task688.dll
  • %System%\reg678.dll
  • {Shared Folder}\{random string}.exe
  • {Shared Folder}\{random string}.pif

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Worm.Win32.LOVGATE.ACH. 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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