Threat Outbreak Alert: Fake Payment Advice Notification E-mail Messages on March 4, 2013
Threat Type:
IntelliShield: Threat Outbreak Alert
IntelliShield ID:
28411
Version:
4
First Published:
2013 February 27 20:55 GMT
Last Published:
2013 March 05 16:40 GMT
Port:
Not Available
Urgency:
Possible Use
Credibility:
Confirmed
Severity:
Mild Damage
Version Summary:
Cisco Security Intelligence Operations has detected significant activity on March 4, 2013.
Description
Cisco Security Intelligence Operations has detected significant activity related to spam e-mail messages that claim to contain a payment advice notification for the recipient. The text in the e-mail message attempts to convince the recipient to open the attachment for details. However, the .zip 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 (RuleID5411 and RuleID5411KVR) may contain the following files:
The Payment_Advice.exe file in the Payment_Advice.zip attachment has a file size of 135,680 bytes. The MD5 checksum, which is a unique identifier of the executable, is the following string: 0x6438E11E8BBCD0F03E4109F7D40C6F9C
The Payment Advice Ref[B22{_hsbs ref}].exe file in the Payment Advice Ref[B22475093356].zip attachment has a file size of 155,136 bytes. The MD5 checksum is the following string: 0x03BC1014E7E90830A23961F1B1A38D49
The Payment receipt.exe file in the Payment receipt.zip attachment has a file size of 33,792 bytes. The MD5 checksum is the following string: 0xCEC0BB037D4356614ABA9C33A568DC59
The Payment Advice Ref[B22{_hsbs ref}].exe file in the Payment Advice Ref[B22204748315].zip attachment has a file size of 164,864 bytes. The MD5 checksum is the following string: 0x733A17E77FB09C817C8FC80507183675
The Payment notification id 43897345.exe file in the Payment notification id 43897345.zip attachment has a file size of 73,728 bytes. The MD5 checksum is the following string: 0x73FAF1C13BAE1FB769EBD45B909C3CF5
The following text is a sample of the e-mail message that is associated with this threat outbreak:
Dear Sir/Madam
Upon your request, attached please find payment e-Advice for your reference.
Yours faithfully
HSBC
***************************************************************************
We maintain strict security standards and procedures to prevent unauthorised access to information about you. HSBC will never contact you by e-mail or otherwise to ask you to validate personal information such as your user ID, password, or account numbers. If you receive such a request, please call our Direct Financial Services hotline.
Please do not reply to this e-mail. Should you wish to contact us, please send your e-mail to commercialbanking@hsbc.com and we will respond to you.
Note: it is important that you do not provide your account or credit card numbers, or convey any confidential information or banking instructions, in your reply mail.
Copyright. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited 2005 All rights reserved.
***************************************************************************
The malware associated with this threat outbreak appears to be a keylogger that is used to steal sensitive information. This keylogger could make modifications to the registry key and may attempt to contact arbitrary hosts on the Internet.
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 systems to protect customers. This report will be updated if there are significant changes or if the risk to end users increases.
Cisco security appliances 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 Web Security Appliances will not be impacted by these attacks. Cisco security appliances are automatically updated to prevent both spam e-mail and hostile web URLs from being passed to the end user.
The security vulnerability applies to the following combinations of products.
Primary Products:
IntelliShield
Threat Outbreak Alert
Original Release Base
Associated Products:
N/A
Alerts and bulletins on the Cisco Security Intelligence Operations Portal are highlighted by analysts in the
Cisco Threat Operations Center and represent a subset of the comprehensive content that is available through Cisco Security IntelliShield Alert Manager Service.
This customizable threat and vulnerability alert service provides security staff with access to timely, accurate, and credible information about threats and vulnerabilities that may affect their environment. Cisco is pleased to offer a free trial of the service.
To register for full access, please visit the IntelliShield trial registration page.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER The urgency and severity ratings of this alert are not tailored to individual users; users may value alerts differently based upon their network configurations and circumstances. THE ALERT, AND INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN, ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND DO NOT IMPLY ANY KIND OF GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. YOUR USE OF THE ALERT, AND INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN, OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE ALERT, IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. INFORMATION IN THIS ALERT AND ANY RELATED COMMUNICATIONS IS BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE ALERTS AT ANY TIME.
