MVISION Insights: Masslogger Spyware
Technical Articles ID:
KB93352
Last Modified: 9/10/2020
Last Modified: 9/10/2020
Environment
IMPORTANT: This Knowledge Base article discusses a specific threat that is being automatically tracked by the McAfee technology MVISION Insights. The content is intended for use by MVISION Insights users, but is provided for general knowledge to all McAfee customers. Contact McAfee for more information about MVISION Insights.
Summary
Description of Campaign
MassLogger is spyware software that appeared late April or early May 2020. This spyware is a keylogger and information stealer that spreads by infecting external drives. It installs itself using an Excel sheet with malicious macros, or using a stack-based overflow vulnerability (CVE-2017-11882) in Microsoft Office. It uses a few defense evasion techniques, notably the ability to exclude itself from Windows Defender checks. The malware secures its installation by creating Windows Scheduled Tasks. MassLogger collects data from several applications, including browser and Outlook data and chat software.
How to use this article:
Campaign IOC
Minimum Content Versions:
Detection Summary
Minimum set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Endpoint Security - Advanced Threat Protection:
Rule: 1
Rule Type: File
Process to include: eqnedt32.exe
File or folder name to block: cmd.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Rule: 2
Rule Type: File
Process to include: svchost.exe
File or folder name to block: eqnedt32.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Rule: 3
Rule Type: File
Process to include: excel.exe
File or folder name to block: ?script.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Aggressive set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Endpoint Security - Dynamic Application Containment:
VirusScan Enterprise - Access Protection Custom Rules:
MassLogger is spyware software that appeared late April or early May 2020. This spyware is a keylogger and information stealer that spreads by infecting external drives. It installs itself using an Excel sheet with malicious macros, or using a stack-based overflow vulnerability (CVE-2017-11882) in Microsoft Office. It uses a few defense evasion techniques, notably the ability to exclude itself from Windows Defender checks. The malware secures its installation by creating Windows Scheduled Tasks. MassLogger collects data from several applications, including browser and Outlook data and chat software.
- If a Threat Hunting table has been created, use the rules contained to search for malware related to this campaign.
- Review the product detection table and confirm that your environment is at least on the specified content version.
To download the latest content versions, go to the Security Updates page.
- Scroll down and review the "Product Countermeasures" section of this article. Consider implementing them if they are not already in place.
- Review
KB91836 - Countermeasures for entry vector threats, which contains countermeasures . - Review KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
- Review KB82925 - Identify what rule corresponds to an Adaptive Threat Protection and Threat Intelligence Exchange event.
Campaign IOC
| Type | Value |
| SHA256 | 19FA83B7BAE45345BA8ECF08B8EC7BBF6C925FF1A10F9730742B1DCF77CCED23 |
| SHA256 | E9D78D345EA8722B102D71E061A9AF222CBC1359FB4934F350857EE4269920BF |
| SHA256 | 7FA391D30BB55C4FCB4F7A43648E4373B0949E5579BFC45A7E611C352590D5F0 |
Minimum Content Versions:
| Content Type | Version |
| V2 DAT (VirusScan Enterprise) | 9683 |
| V3 DAT (Endpoint Security) | 4135 |
Detection Summary
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
Minimum set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Endpoint Security - Advanced Threat Protection:
Rule ID: 309 Block processes attempting to launch from office applications. Rule enabled only in high security policies
Rule ID: 329 Identify and block suspicious usage of Scheduled Tasks in high change systems
Rule ID: 300 Prevent office applications from launching child processes that can execute script commands
Rule ID: 4 Use GTI file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Custom Rules:
Rule ID: 329 Identify and block suspicious usage of Scheduled Tasks in high change systems
Rule ID: 300 Prevent office applications from launching child processes that can execute script commands
Rule ID: 4 Use GTI file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Rule: 1
Executables (Include):
eqnedt32.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
execute
Targets (Include):
cmd.exe
Rule: 2
Executables (Include):
excel.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
execute
Targets (Include):
?script.exe
Rule: 3
Executables (Include):
svchost.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
execute
Targets (Include):
eqnedt32.exe
VirusScan Enterprise - Access Protection Custom Rules:
Executables (Include):
eqnedt32.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
execute
Targets (Include):
cmd.exe
Rule: 2
Executables (Include):
excel.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
execute
Targets (Include):
?script.exe
Rule: 3
Executables (Include):
svchost.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
execute
Targets (Include):
eqnedt32.exe
Rule: 1
Rule Type: File
Process to include: eqnedt32.exe
File or folder name to block: cmd.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Rule: 2
Rule Type: File
Process to include: svchost.exe
File or folder name to block: eqnedt32.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Rule: 3
Rule Type: File
Process to include: excel.exe
File or folder name to block: ?script.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Aggressive set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Endpoint Security - Dynamic Application Containment:
Modifying the Services registry location
Virusscan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:
Prevent execution of scripts from the Temp folder
Host Intrusion Prevention:
Rule ID: 2806 Attempt to create a hardlink to a file
Rule ID: 6011 Generic Application Invocation Protection
Rule ID: 1148 CMD Tool Access by a Network Aware Application
Rule ID: 1020 Windows Agent Shielding - File Access
Rule ID: 6010 Generic Application Hooking Protection
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Custom Rules:
Rule ID: 6011 Generic Application Invocation Protection
Rule ID: 1148 CMD Tool Access by a Network Aware Application
Rule ID: 1020 Windows Agent Shielding - File Access
Rule ID: 6010 Generic Application Hooking Protection
Rule: 1
Executables (Include):
excel.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
create
Targets (Include):
?:\programdata\*.vbs
Rule: 2
Executables (Include):
?script.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
delete
Targets (Include):
C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\*
Rule: 3
Executables (Include):
?script.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
create
Targets (Include):
?:\programdata\*.exe
Rule: 4
Executables (Include):
?script.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
create
Targets (Include):
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\*.vbs
Rule: 5
Executables (Include):
?script.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
execute
Targets (Include):
cmd.exe
Rule: 6
Executables (Include):
*
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
create
Targets (Include):
?:\users\*\appdata\roaming\*.exe
Executables (Include):
excel.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
create
Targets (Include):
?:\programdata\*.vbs
Rule: 2
Executables (Include):
?script.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
delete
Targets (Include):
C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\*
Rule: 3
Executables (Include):
?script.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
create
Targets (Include):
?:\programdata\*.exe
Rule: 4
Executables (Include):
?script.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
create
Targets (Include):
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\*.vbs
Rule: 5
Executables (Include):
?script.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
execute
Targets (Include):
cmd.exe
Rule: 6
Executables (Include):
*
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations:
create
Targets (Include):
?:\users\*\appdata\roaming\*.exe
VirusScan Enterprise - Access Protection Custom Rules:
Rule: 1
Rule Type: File
Process to include: ?script.exe
File or folder name to block: cmd.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Rule: 2
Rule Type: File
Process to include: ?script.exe
File or folder name to block: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\*
File actions to prevent: Delete
Rule: 3
Rule Type: File
Process to include: ?script.exe
File or folder name to block: *\programdata\*.exe
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 4
Rule Type: File
Process to include: ?script.exe
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\*.vbs
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 5
Rule Type: File
Process to include: excel.exe
File or folder name to block: *\programdata\*.vbs
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 6
Rule Type: File
Process to include: *
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\roaming\*.exe
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule Type: File
Process to include: ?script.exe
File or folder name to block: cmd.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Rule: 2
Rule Type: File
Process to include: ?script.exe
File or folder name to block: C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\*
File actions to prevent: Delete
Rule: 3
Rule Type: File
Process to include: ?script.exe
File or folder name to block: *\programdata\*.exe
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 4
Rule Type: File
Process to include: ?script.exe
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\*.vbs
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 5
Rule Type: File
Process to include: excel.exe
File or folder name to block: *\programdata\*.vbs
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 6
Rule Type: File
Process to include: *
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\roaming\*.exe
File actions to prevent: Create
