Cisco Security Intelligence Operations has detected significant activity related to spam e-mail messages that claim there is an issue with a tax refund. The text in the e-mail message instructs the recipient to download the attached documentation for additional details. However, the attachment contains a malicious .exe file that, when executed, attempts to infect the system with malicious code.
E-mail messages that are related to this threat (RuleID3960, RuleID4127, and RuleID4127KVR) may contain any of the following files:
irspdf.exe
report__fdp.zip
report__fdp.exe
products__fdp.zip
products__fdp.exe
PRODUC~1.EXE
The irspdf.exe file has a file size of 1,323,520 bytes. The MD5 checksum, which is a unique identifier of the executable, is the following string: 0xDBAADCD0E9F3975FBD5AC2CB361A689C
The report__fdp.exe file in the report__fdp.zip attachment has a file size of 1085,440 bytes. The MD5 checksum is the following string: 0xA94F43798775A3BA61EF9E6A6183896F
The products__fdp.exe file in the products__fdp.zip attachment has a file size of 1,085,440 bytes. The MD5 checksum is the following string: 0xD4DD1AB3F7E100CF2FB826E8706E49E7
The PRODUC~1.EXE file in the products__fdp.zip attachment has a file size of 1,358,848 bytes. The MD5 checksum is the following string: 0x66C2865D99D98E70EDFB19ECCBB10765
The following are sample e-mail messages associated with this threat outbreak:
Subject: IRS New File
Message Body:
As the fiscal year is concluding, we hereby bring to your attention issues relating to your tax refund.
A detailed financial documentation as it applies to you has been attached in this email. You are required to read through carefully and report any discrepancies to enable us update our records and process a refund where applicable.
Please download the attached documentation. The forms should be dully filled and sent back to us via our return email:taxrefund@irs.gov
Regards,
Internal Revenue Service
Or
Subject: Re: Your Income Tax Refund
Message Body:
As the fiscal year is concluding, we hereby bring to your attention issues relating to your tax refund.
A detailed financial documentation as it applies to you has been attached in this email. You are required to read through carefully and report any discrepancies to enable us update our records and process a refund where applicable.
Please download the attached documentation. The forms should be dully filled and sent back to us via our return email:taxrefund@irs.gov
Regards,
Internal Revenue Service
Cisco Security Intelligence Operations analysts examine real-world e-mail traffic data that is collected from over 100,000 contributing organizations worldwide. This data helps provide a range of information about and analysis of global e-mail security threats and trends. Cisco will continue to monitor this threat and automatically adapt IronPort systems to protect customers. This report will be updated if there are significant changes or if the risk to end users increases.
Cisco IronPort Virus Outbreak Filters protect customers during the critical period between the first exploit of a virus outbreak and the release of vendor antivirus signatures. E-mail that is managed by Cisco and end users who are protected by Cisco IronPort web security appliances will not be impacted by these attacks. Cisco IronPort appliances are automatically updated to prevent both spam e-mail and hostile web URLs from being passed to the end user.
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