Analysis by: Michael Cabel

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware

This backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It steals system information. It logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 654,096 bytes
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 13 Nov 2012
Payload: Compromises system security, Logs keystrokes, Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information

Arrival Details

This backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This backdoor drops the following non-malicious files:

  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random File Name}.cfg
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random File Name}.xtr
  • %Application Data%\plugin.dat
  • %Application Data%\2.ico
  • %Current Folder%\plugin.dat
  • %User Temp%\winxp7
  • %User Temp%\winxp8
  • %Application Data%\Rood.3gp
  • %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
  • %User Temp%\2.ico
  • %User Temp%\.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\IDF.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft Word Update.exe
  • %Application Data%\tempp.exe
  • %Application Data%\winrar.exe
  • %Application Data%\smss.exe
  • %User Temp%\Microsoft Word.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:

  • brSTgHafH

It injects threads into the following normal process(es):

  • %System%\sethc.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Autostart Technique

This backdoor drops the following shortcut pointing to its copy in the User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

  •         .lnk

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry entries as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WinRAR SFX
{Malware Path} = {Malware Path}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\XtremeRAT
Mutex = {Random Values}

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\qv1668809101y.oac

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\IDF 23-9

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\he1779463363a.pqb

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\yjudhfvjndghjghj

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rz1263048663h.byi

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\brSTgHafH

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ep1839519877p.otz

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\remote

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\pe1771047725g.bgt

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor opens the following port(s) where it listens for remote commands:

  • TCP port 50001
  • TCP port 12001

It connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • {BLOCKED}3.no-ip.net
  • {BLOCKED}1.no-ip.net
  • skype.{BLOCKED}p3.com
  • {BLOCKED}f.blogsite.org
  • test.{BLOCKED}odem.org
  • {BLOCKED}2.no-ip.net

Information Theft

This backdoor steals system information.

It logs a user's keystrokes to steal information.

Stolen Information

This backdoor saves the stolen information in the following file:

  • %Application Data%\logs.dat
  • %Application Data%\winxplog.dat
  • %Current Folder%\logs.dat
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random File Name}.dat

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.488.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 26 Oct 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.489.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 27 Oct 2012

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • WinRAR SFX
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • XtremeRAT
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • qv1668809101y.oac
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • IDF 23-9
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • he1779463363a.pqb
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • yjudhfvjndghjghj
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • rz1263048663h.byi
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • brSTgHafH
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • ep1839519877p.otz
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
    • remote
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
    • pe1771047725g.bgt

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
  • %Application Data%\logs.dat
  • %Application Data%\winxplog.dat
  • %Current Folder%\logs.dat
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random File Name}.dat
  • %User Startup%\        .lnk
  • %User Temp%\2.ico
  • %User Temp%\.exe
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random File Name}.cfg
  • %Application Data%\Microsoft\Windows\{Random File Name}.xtr
  • %Application Data%\plugin.dat
  • %Application Data%\2.ico
  • %Current Folder%\plugin.dat
  • %User Temp%\winxp7
  • %User Temp%\winxp8
  • %Application Data%\Rood.3gp
  • %Application Data%\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_XTRAT.LTY. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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