Infostealer.Metafisher

The Trojan was spammed out as one of the following emails:

From: Dell Online Store
Subject: Its order #76453 to total of 739,00$ was accepted
Message Body:
We thank for to You a purchase to him with our company.
Its No76453 order for Panasonic Digital Lt-j28 7,0 MP Double bed to total
of 739,00$ was accepted.
Its banking letter will be included in that amount.
We thank for its purchase to him.
You can verify your order in your Parametros of the User
Tighten here to see its order
Very kindly,
Dell Online Store

From: Sunrise Online Store
Subject: Su orden #F8A2198CD8E a total de 576.00$ fue acceptado
Message Body:
Le agradecemos a Ud una compra con nuestra empresa.
Su orden No F8A2198CD8E para Sony RX-F18 8.0 MP
Digital Camera a total de 576.00$ fue acceptado.
Su carta bancaria se incluira' en aquel importe.
Le agradecemos su compra.
Ud puede comprobar su orden en sus Parametros del
Usuario
Aprete aqui para ver su orden
Muy atentamente,
Sunrise Online Store

If the link contained in the email is clicked, the following the browser will connect to one of the following domains:

• [http://]advanced-customers-online.com/[REMOVED]
• [http://]frandenburg-online.com/[REMOVED]

These domains contain the file XPL.WMF, which exploits the Microsoft Windows Graphics Rendering Engine WMF Format Unspecified Code Execution Vulnerability (BID 16047) to download and execute the following remote file:
1.exe

When this file is executed, it performs the following actions:

1. Modifies the values:
   
   "(Default)" = ":*:MCAFEE_SIGNATURE_HERE_LOL"
   "%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" = "%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE:*:Enabled:Internet Explorer"
   
   in the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\
   SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\
   AuthorizedApplications\List
   
   to allow it access through the Windows Firewall.
   
   Note: %ProgramFiles% is a variable that refers to the program files folder. By default, this is C:\Program Files.
   
   
2. Downloads the following file:
   
   installer.exe
   
   
3. Attempts to create the following files:
   
   
   • C:\djrgjeigjeoirgjerirg.txt
   • C:\zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz222
     
     
4. Adds the values:
   
   "next_install" = "420ca762"
   "compid" = "[RANDOM_ID]"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\load
   
   
5. Adds the value:
   
   "Enable Browser Extensions" = "yes"
   
   to the registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
   
   
6. Creates of the following registry subkeys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\load\httpreport
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\load\waspopup
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\load\formwas
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTRWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
   Browser Helper Objects\{78364D99-A640-4DDF-B91A-67EFF8373045}
   
   
7. Creates the following .dll file and registers it as a Browser Helper Object:
   
   %System%\msnscps.dll
   
   Note: %System% is a variable that refers to the System folder. By default this is C:\Windows\System (Windows 95/98/Me), C:\Winnt\System32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:\Windows\System32 (Windows XP).
   
   
8. Once installed the Trojan will create the following files:
   
   
   • %System%\form.txt
   • %System%\info.txt
   • %System%\shot.html
     
     Note: These files are used to store stolen information from the compromised computer.
     
     
9. Gather the following information:
   
   
   • Host name and IP address
   • Outlook Express accounts
   • SMTP / POP3 server
   • Passwords for Internet Explorer's AutoComplete feature
   • MSN Explorer accounts
   • Windows cached passwords
   • URLs visited
   • HTTP POST requests
   • Content of HTTP FORM
     
     
10. May display the following message when the user opens Internet Explorer:
    
    
    
    
    Title:
    Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library
    Body:
    Program Error!
    Program: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.exe
    This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual
    way.
    Please contact the application's support team for more information.
    
    
11. Creates the file C:\1.bat, which contains commands do delete system files in the following locations:
    
    • C:\*.*
    • %SystemDrive%
    • %ProgramFiles%
      
      Note:
    • This routine that can be activated by the remote attacker to destroy data on the compromised computer.
    • %SystemDrive% is a variable that refers to the drive on which Windows is installed. By default, this is drive C.
      
      
12. May contact the following remote host:
    
    [http://]european-business-organization.com/[REMOVED]/chat.php
    
    
13. Can be remotely configured to send all the gathered information to a remote host using the HTTP or FTP protocol.

Recommendations

Symantec Security Response encourages all users and administrators to adhere to the following basic security "best practices":

• Use a firewall to block all incoming connections from the Internet to services that should not be publicly available. By default, you should deny all incoming connections and only allow services you explicitly want to offer to the outside world.
• Enforce a password policy. Complex passwords make it difficult to crack password files on compromised computers. This helps to prevent or limit damage when a computer is compromised.
• Ensure that programs and users of the computer use the lowest level of privileges necessary to complete a task. When prompted for a root or UAC password, ensure that the program asking for administration-level access is a legitimate application.
• Disable AutoPlay to prevent the automatic launching of executable files on network and removable drives, and disconnect the drives when not required. If write access is not required, enable read-only mode if the option is available.
• Turn off file sharing if not needed. If file sharing is required, use ACLs and password protection to limit access. Disable anonymous access to shared folders. Grant access only to user accounts with strong passwords to folders that must be shared.
• Turn off and remove unnecessary services. By default, many operating systems install auxiliary services that are not critical. These services are avenues of attack. If they are removed, threats have less avenues of attack.
• If a threat exploits one or more network services, disable, or block access to, those services until a patch is applied.
• Always keep your patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers that host public services and are accessible through the firewall, such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services.
• Configure your email server to block or remove email that contains file attachments that are commonly used to spread threats, such as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files.
• Isolate compromised computers quickly to prevent threats from spreading further. Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted media.
• Train employees not to open attachments unless they are expecting them. Also, do not execute software that is downloaded from the Internet unless it has been scanned for viruses. Simply visiting a compromised Web site can cause infection if certain browser vulnerabilities are not patched.
• If Bluetooth is not required for mobile devices, it should be turned off. If you require its use, ensure that the device's visibility is set to "Hidden" so that it cannot be scanned by other Bluetooth devices. If device pairing must be used, ensure that all devices are set to "Unauthorized", requiring authorization for each connection request. Do not accept applications that are unsigned or sent from unknown sources.
• For further information on the terms used in this document, please refer to the Security Response glossary.

Summary