Persistent RAT

[nickhopp]

I have a persistent RAT that I haven’t been able to detect with any AV or AM. It has infected everything on my network besides a couple IPhones. Would really appreciate some help getting rid of it. It’s been the bane of my existence for a few weeks.

[nickhopp]

I’m running windows 11 on an HP laptop

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello @nickhopp and

 

Let's go ahead and run a couple of scans and get some updated logs from your system. Please read the entire post below before starting so that you're more familiar with the process

[ 1 ]

Please make the following system changes.

• Temporarily disable your antivirus real-time protection or other security software first only if it blocks or interferes with the scans or downloads.. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
• Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download software below only if needed. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
• Disable-Fast-Startup
• Show-Hidden-Folders-Files-Extensions

[ 2 ]

Malwarebytes AdwCleaner

Let's do a special run of Malwarebytes AdwCleaner to help prepare the computer to be able to run other scanning software that may be blocked

Please read all the information below before starting so that you have a good understanding of the process.
Take your time and be careful. Make sure you select all of the listed items below - before- pressing the scan button.

 

• Please download Malwarebytes AdwCleaner and save the file to your Desktop or Downloads folder.
• Here is another link to download if the link above does not work:  Malwarebytes AdwCleaner alternative link
• Locate the program where you downloaded it. Double-click to start AdwCleaner.  Do not rush. There are a few choices to set as listed below.
• Malwarebytes AdwCleaner guide
• Reply YES at the Windows prompt to allow the program to proceed and make changes. That is the usual Windows security prompt.
• Accept the End User License Agreement.
• Wait until the database is updated. Do Not click on anything yet.

 

When AdwCleaner starts, on the left side panel of the window, click on Settings and enable these repair actions on the Application tab

Clicking their button to the far-right will enable the ON status

 

• Delete IFEO keys
• Delete tracing keys
• Delete Prefetch files
• Reset Proxy
• Reset Chrome policies
• Reset IE Policies
• Reset Winsock
• Reset Hosts file (If you're not having any issues accessing security or other websites you can uncheck this item)

 

 

ONLY after you have set the selections above ....only after that .....

Now On the left side of the AdwCleaner window, click on the Dashboard panel and then click the Scan button to perform a computer scan.

 

 

• DO NOT uninstall or remove the Preinstalled software if found. Uncheck any items listed for Preinstalled
• When finished, if items are found please click Quarantine to finish the cleaning process.
• Your PC should reboot now if any items were found.
• After reboot, a log file will be opened. Attach that log to your next reply. You can also open the Log Files panel to locate.
• This can take several minutes to complete, please be patient.
• When the AdwCleaner scan is completed it will display all of the items it has found. Click on the Quarantine button To remove what it found.
• AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to close any open programs before it starts to clean.
• Click on the Continue button to finish the removal process.
• If No Detections are found, Click the Basic Repair button to have it reset the checked items above.

[ 3 ] 

Malwarebytes for Windows

• If you already have Malwarebytes installed then open Malwarebytes and click on the small gear icon, then click on the "Check for updates" button on the General tab.
• After any updates, click the middle Scan button from the main page. It will automatically run a Threat Scan.
• If you don't have Malwarebytes installed yet, please download it from here or alternative link and install it.
• Once installed then open Malwarebytes and select Scan and let it run.
• Once the scan is completed, make sure you have it quarantine any detections it finds.
• If no detections were found click on the Save results drop-down, then the Export to TXT  button, and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find and attach that log on your next reply.
• If there were detections then once the quarantine has completed click on the View report button, Then click the Export drop-down, then the Export to TXT  button, and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find and attach that log on your next reply.
• If the computer restarted to quarantine you can access the logs from the Detection History, then the History tab. Highlight the most recent scan and double-click to open it. Then click the Export drop-down, then the Export to TXT  button, and save the file as a Text file to your desktop or other location you can find and attach that log on your next reply.
• If Malwarebytes won't run then please skip to the next step and let us know in your next reply that the scanner would not run.

 

View Reports and History in Malwarebytes for Windows v4
https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038479194-View-Reports-and-History-in-Malwarebytes-for-Windows

Malwarebytes for Windows v4 guide
https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038984693-Malwarebytes-for-Windows-v4-guide

 

RESTART THE COMPUTER Before running Step 4

[ 4 ]

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system.
You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

• Please rename FRST.EXE or FRST64.EXE to FRSTEnglish.exe
• After renaming the file right-click over FRSTEnglish.exe and select "Run as administrator"
• When the tool opens click Yes to the disclaimer
• Make sure there is a check mark in the Addition.txt check box
• Press the Scan button.
• It will make a log FRST.txt and Addition.txt in the same directory the tool is run from. Please attach both logs to your next reply.

 

 

Thank you

 

Example image of where to click to attach files when posting your reply

 

 

 

[nickhopp]

here are the logs you requested. Thanks in advance for your help. this thing has definitely humbled me and my abilities.

malwarebytes scan log.txt FRST.txt Addition.txt AdwCleaner[S00].txt

[AdvancedSetup]

ATTENTION: System Restore is disabled (Total:237.58 GB) (Free:200.19 GB) (84%)

Please enable System Protection and create a NEW System Restore Point

 

Turn On or Off System Protection for Drives in Windows 11
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-system-protection-for-drives-in-windows-11.3598/

Create System Restore Point in Windows 11
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/create-system-restore-point-in-windows-11.3602/

 

 

This does not look like a normal, valid installation of Firefox. Did you do a custom install on your own?

Default browser: "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Mozilla.Firefox_120.0.1.0_x64__n80bbvh6b1yt2\VFS\ProgramFiles\Firefox Package Root\firefox.exe" -osint -url "%1"

 

[AdvancedSetup]

This is the "normal" installation path for Firefox

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

 

[AdvancedSetup]

Never mind. I see it's a Windows installed package

 

[nickhopp]

So this thing has a way of hijacking programs. It hijacks chrome when I download it which is why I am using Firefox. Also think it got bitdefender as well

[AdvancedSetup]

Please download and run the following Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool 2020 and save it to your Desktop.

(Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool version 20.0.10.0 was released on November 9, 2021)

Download: Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool

https://devbuilds.s.kaspersky-labs.com/devbuilds/KVRT/latest/full/KVRT.exe

How to run a scan with Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool 2020
https://support.kaspersky.com/15674

How to run Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool 2020 in the advanced mode
https://support.kaspersky.com/15680

How to restore a file removed during Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool 2020 scan
https://support.kaspersky.com/15681

 

Select the     Windows Key and R Key together, the "Run" box should open. Drag and Drop KVRT.exe into the Run Box. C:\Users\{your user name}\DESKTOP\KVRT.exe will now show in the run box. add -dontencrypt   Note the space between KVRT.exe and -dontencrypt C:\Users\{your user name}\DESKTOP\KVRT.exe -dontencrypt should now show in the Run box.   That addendum to the run command is very important, when the scan does eventually complete the resultant report is normally encrypted, with the extra command it is saved as a readable file. Reports are saved here C:\KVRT2020_Data\Reports and look similar to this report_20210123_113021.klr Right-click direct onto that report, select > open with > Notepad. Save that file and attach it to your reply. To start the scan select OK in the "Run" box. A EULA window will open, tick all confirmation boxes then select "Accept" In the new window select "Change Parameters" In the new window ensure all selection boxes are ticked, then select "OK" The scan should now start... When complete if entries are found there will be options, if "Cure" is offered leave as is. For any other options change to "Delete" then select "Continue" When complete, or if nothing was found select "Close" Attach the report information as previously instructed...   Thank you

 

 

[nickhopp]

heres the kasperksky log

report_2023.12.06_16.26.18.klr.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Nothing found. Would you like to run another AV scan?

 

Let's try the Microsoft scanner

 

Let's go ahead and run a couple of scans and get some updated logs from your system. Please read the entire post below before starting so that you're more familiar with the process

[ 1 ]

Please make the following system changes.

• Temporarily disable your antivirus real-time protection or other security software first only if it blocks or interferes with the scans or downloads.. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
• Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download software below only if needed. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
• Disable-Fast-Startup
• Show-Hidden-Folders-Files-Extensions

[ 2 ]

I suggest a new scan for viruses & other malware. This may take several hours, depending on the number of files on the system and the speed of the computer.

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free Microsoft stand-alone virus scanner that can be used to scan for & remove malware or potentially unwanted software from a system. 

The download links & the how-to-run-the tool are at this link at Microsoft 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/intelligence/safety-scanner-download

 

Look on the Scan Options & select the FULL scan.

Then start the scan. Have lots of patience. It may take several hours.

• Once you see it has started, take a long long break;  walk away.  Do not pay credence if you see some intermediate early flash messages on the screen display.  The only things that count are the End result at the end of the run.
• The scan will take several hours.  Leave it alone. It will remove any other remaining threats as it goes along.  Take a very long break, do your normal personal errands .....just do not use the computer during this scan.

This is likely to run for many hours as previously mentioned  ( depending on the number of files on your machine & the speed of the hardware.)

The log is named MSERT.log  and the log will be at C:\Windows\debug\msert.log

Please attach that log with your next reply.

 

It is normal for the Microsoft Safety Scanner to show detections during the scan process.

It is scanning for basically all bread crumbs or traces of files and registry entries that "might" be or have been part of some infection or previous infection.

That DOES NOT mean the computer is infected. Once the scan has been completed it uploads the log to their Cloud service which then uses Artificial Intelligence to determine if in fact any of the traces are an infection or not.

Then it writes into the log on your computer what it found.

 

Thank you

[nickhopp]

here's the scan log for msert.

msert.log

[AdvancedSetup]

That found nothing either. Just a policy setting when other AV is in use.

Please get me a new, fresh set of logs from the Farbar scanner. If you still have it you can run that, if not, please download it again and run it.

 

 

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system.
You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

• Please rename FRST.EXE or FRST64.EXE to FRSTEnglish.exe
• After renaming the file right-click over FRSTEnglish.exe and select "Run as administrator"
• When the tool opens click Yes to the disclaimer
• Make sure there is a check mark in the Addition.txt check box
• Press the Scan button.
• It will make a log FRST.txt and Addition.txt in the same directory the tool is run from. Please attach both logs to your next reply.

 

Thank you

 

[nickhopp]

yeah its very stealth. ive never seen one this intelligent before. heres the updated farbar

FRST.txt Addition.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Please follow the steps below

[ 1 ]

Your current DNS Servers:    192.168.1.254  

Please consider changing your default DNS server settings. Please choose one provider only

DNS is what lets users connect to websites using domain names instead of IP addresses

Pick just one of these 4 providers. And be aware that you need to modify 1 time for IPv4 & a 2nd pass for IPv6

• Google Public DNS: IPv4   8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4   IPv6   2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
• Cloudflare: IPv4   1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1   IPv6   2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001
• OpenDNS: IPv4   208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220  IPv6  2620:119:35::35 and 2620:119:53::53
• DNSWATCH: IPv4   84.200.69.80 and 84.200.70.40   IPv6  2001:1608:10:25::1c04:b12f and 2001:1608:10:25::9249:d69b

The Ultimate Guide to Changing Your DNS Server
https://www.howtogeek.com/167533/the-ultimate-guide-to-changing-your-dns-server/

Here is a YouTube video on Changing DNS settings if needed

 

[ 2 ]

Please make a new folder not on your OneDrive

C:\Fix

Then copy the file C:\Users\nicko\OneDrive\Desktop\FRSTENGLISH.exe to the C:\Fix folder and use it from there.

 

[ 3 ]

Please run the following fix

Temporarily disable Bitdefender real time protection

NOTE: Please read all of the information below before running this fix.

• NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine.
• Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system that cannot be undone.

Once the fix has been completed, please attach the file FIXLOG.TXT to your next reply

Farbar program:   FRSTEnglish.exe

Save the attached file:  FIXLIST.TXT to this folder C:\Fix\

NOTE. It's important that both files, FRSTEnglish.exe, and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

Please make sure you disable any real-time antivirus or security software before running this script. Once completed, make sure you re-enable it.

 

 

Run the Farbar program with Admin rights and press the Fix button just once and wait.

The fix may possibly take up to 60 minutes to complete

If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log named Fixlog.txt in the same folder you ran the Farbar program from. Please attach that log on your next reply.

 

1. NOTE:  This fix will run a scan to check that all Microsoft operating system files are valid and not corrupt and attempt to correct any invalid files. It will also run a disk check on the restart to ensure disk integrity.
2. NOTE: As part of this fix all temporary files will be removed. If you have any open web pages that have not been bookmarked please make sure you bookmark them now as all open applications may be automatically closed.
               Also, make sure you know the passwords for all websites as cookies may possibly be removed in some cases, but not all cases.
3. NOTE: As part of this fix, it will also reset the network to default settings including the firewall. If you have custom firewall rules you need to save please export or save them first before running this fix.

The following directories are emptied:

• Windows Temp
• Users Temp folders
• Edge, IE, FF, Chrome, and Opera caches, HTML5 storages, Cookies and History
• Recently opened files cache
• Discord cache
• Java cache
• Steam HTML cache
• Explorer thumbnail and icon cache
• BITS transfer queue (qmgr*.dat files)
• Recycle Bin

Important: items are permanently deleted. They are not moved to quarantine. If you have any questions or concerns please ask before running this fix.

The system will be rebooted after the fix has run.

fixlist.txt

Thanks

 

Edited December 11, 2023 by AdvancedSetup
Updated information

[nickhopp]

got it. sorry i was out of town  the  last couple of days. ran the fix and attaching the log

Fixlog.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Thank you @nickhopp

That was a good run. It also found and fixed other issues

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.

 

Please run the following

 

SecurityCheck by glax24              

I would like you to run a tool named SecurityCheck to inquire about the current security update status of some applications.
CheckSecurity is a utility for quickly checking for the presence of vulnerable applications

• Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download the software
• Download SecurityCheck by glax24: https://tools.safezone.cc/glax24/SecurityCheck/SecurityCheck.exe
• If SmartScreen blocks the file from running click on More info and Run anyway
• This tool is safe.   Smartscreen is overly sensitive. You can check the VirusTotal scan of the tool from here
• Right-click  with your mouse on the Securitycheck.exe  and select "Run as administrator"  and reply YES to allow to run & go forward
• Wait for the scan to finish. It will open a text file named SecurityCheck.txt Close the file.  Attach it with your next reply.
• You can find this file in a folder called SecurityCheck,  C:\SecurityCheck\SecurityCheck.txt

Items checked:

1. User Account Control (UAC).
2. Service pack.
3. IE version.
4. Automatic OS update. Sets of critical KB patches when updating is disabled.
5. Antivirus, firewall, other security utilities.
6. Versions of Java, Oracle Virtualbox.
7. Version of Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR.
8. Versions of Adobe Reader, Acrobat Reader DC, Foxit Reader.
9. Versions of media players (iTunes, AIMP, foobar2000).
10. Versions of messengers (Skype, Pidgin).
11. Versions of installed browsers (Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Yandex, SeaMonkey).
12. Versions of mail programs (The Bat, Thunderbird).
13. Checking running processes and security program services
14. Searching for installed Adware programs and optimizer programs (More than 5000).

Thank you

 

[nickhopp]

heres the log buddy

SecurityCheck.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Great that looks good. No issues found

Please go ahead and run the following now

 

 

Please run the following ESET Online Scanner and perform a Full Scan

 

Click the following link to save the installer for ESET Online Scanner

https://download.eset.com/com/eset/tools/online_scanner/latest/esetonlinescanner.exe

• It will start a download of "esetonlinescanner.exe"
• Save the file to your system, such as the Downloads folder, or else to the Desktop.
• Go to the saved file, and double click it to get started. 
• When presented with the initial ESET screen, click on "Get Started". Read and accept the Terms of use
• On the "Before we start..." screen chose if you want to send anonymous data and if you want to provide feedback or not, then click Continue
• When prompted for scan type, Click on the Full Scan button
• Enable  ( select )   the radio selection "Enable ESET to detect and quarantine potentially unwanted applications"   and click the Start scan button.
• Have patience.  The entire process may take a few hours or more.
• When the scan is completed, if something was found, it will show a screen with the number of detected items.  If so, click the button marked “View detected results”.
• Click The blue “Save scan log” to save the log and give it a name and location you remember.
• If something was removed and you know it is a false postive, you may click on the blue ”Restore cleaned files”  ( in blue, at the bottom).
• Press Continue when all done.  You should click to turn off the offer for “periodic scanning”.
• Enable "Delete application data on closing" - You do not need to submit feedback unless you want to. Simply ignore and close the program.

 

Note: If you do need to do a File Restore from ESET please follow the directions below

[KB2915] Restore files quarantined by the ESET Online Scanner version 3

https://support.eset.com/en/kb2915-restore-files-quarantined-by-the-eset-online-scanner

 

Please attach the ESET scan log you saved at the end to your next reply

 

[AdvancedSetup]

After the ESET scan completes, please run the following

 

Please perform the following so that I may more accurately assess what threats may remain in your system:

• Download CKScanner from here:http://downloads.malwareremoval.com/CKScanner.exe
• Important - Save it to your Desktop
• Right Click CKScanner.exe and select, Run as administrator
• Give permission if necessary, and click Search For Files
• After a very short time, when the cursor hourglass disappears, click Save List To File
• A message box will verify that the file was saved. Please run the program only once
• Double-click the CKFiles.txt icon on your desktop
• Copy and paste the contents of the logfile into your next reply to me

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

 

[nickhopp]

i ran eset and it came back clean but i had about 10 pop up windows that said a driver wasnt compatible. all of the pop up windows list the same driver which is "ehdrv.sys". im attaching the eset log as well as a screenshot of the pop up windows

eset.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Yes, that is normal on some systems.

Please run one more scanner

 

Let's go ahead and run a couple of scans and get some updated logs from your system. Please read the entire post below before starting so that you're more familiar with the process

[ 1 ]

Please make the following system changes.

• Temporarily disable your antivirus real-time protection or other security software first only if it blocks or interferes with the scans or downloads.. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
• Temporarily disable Microsoft SmartScreen to download software below only if needed. Make sure to turn it back on once the scans are completed.
• Disable-Fast-Startup
• Show-Hidden-Folders-Files-Extensions

[ 2 ]

I suggest a new scan for viruses & other malware. This may take several hours, depending on the number of files on the system and the speed of the computer.

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free Microsoft stand-alone virus scanner that can be used to scan for & remove malware or potentially unwanted software from a system. 

The download links & the how-to-run-the tool are at this link at Microsoft 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/intelligence/safety-scanner-download

 

Look on the Scan Options & select the FULL scan.

Then start the scan. Have lots of patience. It may take several hours.

• Once you see it has started, take a long long break;  walk away.  Do not pay credence if you see some intermediate early flash messages on the screen display.  The only things that count are the End result at the end of the run.
• The scan will take several hours.  Leave it alone. It will remove any other remaining threats as it goes along.  Take a very long break, do your normal personal errands .....just do not use the computer during this scan.

This is likely to run for many hours as previously mentioned  ( depending on the number of files on your machine & the speed of the hardware.)

The log is named MSERT.log  and the log will be at C:\Windows\debug\msert.log

Please attach that log with your next reply.

 

It is normal for the Microsoft Safety Scanner to show detections during the scan process.

It is scanning for basically all bread crumbs or traces of files and registry entries that "might" be or have been part of some infection or previous infection.

That DOES NOT mean the computer is infected. Once the scan has been completed it uploads the log to their Cloud service which then uses Artificial Intelligence to determine if in fact any of the traces are an infection or not.

Then it writes into the log on your computer what it found.

 

Thank you

[nickhopp]

heres the updated msert log

msert.log

[AdvancedSetup]

Something still seems wrong. Please run the Farbar (FRST) scanner again with Admin rights and get me a new fresh set of logs.

FRST.TXT
ADDITION.TXT

 

Thank you

[nickhopp]

heres the farbar recovery scan logs

FRST.txt Addition.txt