This article has been created in order to explain what is the Cinobi Trojan and how to remove this malware completely from your computer.
The Cinobi Trojan is a newly discovered dangerous Trojan that infects computers and uses DNS technology to infect. The malware contains multiple dangerous components which will be started when the infection occurs. Our removal guide features a detailed explanation of the Trojan’s mechanisms of operation, as well as instructions on restoring the infected computers from the infections.
Threat Summary
| Name | Cinobi Trojan |
| Type | Trojan Horse Virus |
| Short Description | Silently infects the target machines and modifies key applications and system services. |
| Symptoms | The user may not experience any signs of infiltration. |
| Distribution Method | Malicious Files, Malicious E-Mails |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Cinobi Trojan. |
The Cinobi Trojan is a new banking Trojan which is currently being spread in an active campaign targeting mainly Japanese users. The active campaign is called Operation Overtrap which is set mainly against users of Japanese online banking services. The available information so far shows that the first attacks have started back in April 2019.
At this moment there are three possible infection sources. The phishing emails are the main source of infections. The email messages are designed to appear as notifications which appear as being sent by online banks and e-banking services. When these pages are visited links to virus files will be embedded. These links can be placed in text hyperlinks, multimedia files and etc. Another type of phishing messages will require that the victims run a malware payload — they can be executable files or macro-infected documents. When they are run the virus infection will happen. The criminals have also created custom exploit kits that are used to deliver malware via dangerous ads. In September last year a lot of victims were made by targeting Internet Explorer web browser users. Links to the exploit code has been posted on various social networks by using fake or stolen accounts.
The exploit kit will deliver a binary code that does not appear to include virus code. It is very possible that the captured samples are still in a test phase. These “clean” files are categorized as being sent by a new emerging weappon called the Bottle Exploit Kit. The Cinibo Trojan will be delivered through it — the exploit kit uses mainly fake messages which are sent over social networks. The other mechanism is the use of malvertising ads.
The custom exploit kit uses a vulnerability tracked in the CVE-2018-15982 advisory which affects the Adobe Flash Player which is used to playback multimedia content. Another mechanism which it leverages is a bug called CVE-2018-8174 which is a security issue which is described as a VBScript remote code execution issue. The Cinobi Trojan will infect targets if they access the malware pages through unpatched web browsers. Most of the infections have happened in February this year.
The Trojan is currently known to have two versions — the first one uses a DLL library injection payload which will act against the installed web browsers. Such attacks are done in order to grab the stored information contain in them. This version of the Cinobi Trojan can be used to alter incoming and outgoing web traffic. The plan of the hackers is to intercept and modify form data related to online banking services. The second version is an updated version of the threat which will add a Tor proxy service which is used to relay the traffic to the hacker-controlled server.
The infection will run through several stages of infection. The first stage will include an initial language check — the virus engine will check whether or not the local regional settings are set to Japanese. If the check passes then the Cinoi Trojan will continue with the infection. The virus engine will download a legitimate unzip.exe application and a local Tor client into the local hard drive contents. From there on they will be renamed and run with a custom configuration file which will download the main malware files and start them. The second stage involves the the download and execution of the local Trojan horse infection and its associated configuration files. They come in encrypted form and will be decrypted on the local machines. The start of the infection will begin with a spooler service configuration change followed by process manipulation. The Trojan engine will disable the following web services: UsoSvc, Wuauserv, WaaSMedicSvc, SecurityHealthService and DisableAntiSpyware. The Tor files will be copied and extracted to the %PUBLIC% folder. To make it harder to detect the infections the executable files will be renam.
An advanced DLL library injection will be done which will make it very hard to remove existing infections. The Cinobi Trojan will hookup to system and important processes that make network connections using Windows sockets. Through them the Trojan activities will take place — the local client will establish a secure connection to the remote hacker-controlled server. This will allow the criminals to take over control of the systems, steal files and gather sensitive information about the victim systems.
Remove Cinobi Effectively from Windows
In order to fully get rid of this Trojan, we advise you to follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They are made so that they help you to isolate and then delete the Cinobi Trojan either manually or automatically. If manual removal represents difficulty for you, experts always advise to perform the removal automatically by running an anti-malware scan via specific software on your PC. Such anti-malware program aims to make sure that the Cinobi is fully gone and your Windows OS stays safe against any future malware infections.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Preparation before removing Cinobi Trojan.
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Do a backup of all of your files, even if they could be damaged. You should back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
- Scan for Malware
- Fix Registries
- Remove Virus Files
Step 1: Scan for Cinobi Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Cinobi Trojan on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Cinobi Trojan there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Step 3: Find virus files created by Cinobi Trojan on your PC.
1.For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
1: On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
2: Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
3: Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC's screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be "fileextension:exe". After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navigation box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn't found it yet.
2.For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS's the conventional approach should be the effective one:
1: Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
2: After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
3: After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
Cinobi Trojan FAQ
What Does Cinobi Trojan Trojan Do?
The Cinobi Trojan Trojan is a malicious computer program designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.
It can be used to steal sensitive data, gain control over a system, or launch other malicious activities.
Can Trojans Steal Passwords?
Yes, Trojans, like Cinobi Trojan, can steal passwords. These malicious programs are designed to gain access to a user's computer, spy on victims and steal sensitive information such as banking details and passwords.
Can Cinobi Trojan Trojan Hide Itself?
Yes, it can. A Trojan can use various techniques to mask itself, including rootkits, encryption, and obfuscation, to hide from security scanners and evade detection.
Can a Trojan be Removed by Factory Reset?
Yes, a Trojan can be removed by factory resetting your device. This is because it will restore the device to its original state, eliminating any malicious software that may have been installed. Bear in mind, that there are more sophisticated Trojans, that leave backdoors and reinfect even after factory reset.
Can Cinobi Trojan Trojan Infect WiFi?
Yes, it is possible for a Trojan to infect WiFi networks. When a user connects to the infected network, the Trojan can spread to other connected devices and can access sensitive information on the network.
Can Trojans Be Deleted?
Yes, Trojans can be deleted. This is typically done by running a powerful anti-virus or anti-malware program that is designed to detect and remove malicious files. In some cases, manual deletion of the Trojan may also be necessary.
Can Trojans Steal Files?
Yes, Trojans can steal files if they are installed on a computer. This is done by allowing the malware author or user to gain access to the computer and then steal the files stored on it.
Which Anti-Malware Can Remove Trojans?
Anti-malware programs such as SpyHunter are capable of scanning for and removing Trojans from your computer. It is important to keep your anti-malware up to date and regularly scan your system for any malicious software.
Can Trojans Infect USB?
Yes, Trojans can infect USB devices. USB Trojans typically spread through malicious files downloaded from the internet or shared via email, allowing the hacker to gain access to a user's confidential data.
About the Cinobi Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Cinobi Trojan how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific trojan problem.
How did we conduct the research on Cinobi Trojan?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of trojans (backdoor, downloader, infostealer, ransom, etc.)
Furthermore, the research behind the Cinobi Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.