Threat Descriptions

Trojan-Spy:Android/Sscul

Classification

Category :

Malware

Type :

Trojan-Spy

Platform :

Android

Aliases :

Trojan-Spy:Android/Sscul.A, Trojan-Spy:Android/Sscul.B, Trojan-Spy:Android/Sscul.C

Summary

Trojan-Spy:Android/Sscul variants steal information from the affected device and forward the details to a remote server. More unusually, Sschul variants attempt to infect Windows machines linked to the device by exploiting the AutoRun feature.

Removal

Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it will either move the file to the quarantine where it cannot spread or cause harm, or remove it.

A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:

  • Check for the latest database updates

    First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.

  • Submit a sample

    After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.

    Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.

  • Exclude a file from further scanning

    If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.

    Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.

Technical Details

Ssucl is a family of trojans found in a third party Android app market. It claims to be a utility application called DroidCleaner or SuperClean that can improve a device's performance. But when installed, it does nothing useful.

Ssucl's main operation revolves around information theft. It communicates with a command and control (C&C) server and receives instructions to carry out further actions. These actions vary between variants and include:

  • Upload files, contact data, photos, GPS coordinates, device information (IMEI number, IP address, list of installed application, etc.), and SMS content to the server
  • Send or delete SMS messages
  • Change the ringer mode to silent or normal
  • Set up call forwarding by inputting the code **21* phonenumber#, where phonenumber is the number to which the calls will be forwarded
  • Turn the WiFi on or off
  • Launch other applications on the device
  • Steal Android or Dropbox login credentials
  • Download AutoRun malware onto the device's memory card

Ssucl has been found to be in contact with these two servers:

  • http://claco/[...]/kicks-ass.net
  • http://claco./[...]/hopto.org

The first part of the URLs is similar to Claudio c, the name used to sign Ssucl's certificate. This similarity may be a hint pointing to the author's name.

Additionally, Ssucl tries to infect the Windows computer linked to device by taking advantage of the AutoRun feature. When infecting a device, Ssucl will copy a Windows executable to the memory card that will automatically run when the device is connected to the computer as an external USB storage device. This Windows component is also a spying trojan; it connects to the same C&C servers as its Android counterpart.

A mobile malware attempting to infect a Windows computer is not a new finding. The CardTrap family of Symbian trojans used the same method (taking advantage of the AutoRun feature to infect memory cards) back in 2005. But this is the first instance where the method is used by an Android malware. However, the AutoRun infection method used by Ssucl is quite crude and does not work on the newer version of Windows or on older versions if the AutoRun feature has been disabled.