Analysis by: Christopher Daniel So
ALIASES:

Exploit:Win32/CVE-2012-0158 (Microsoft), Exploit.CVE-2012-0158.b!rtf (McAfee), Exploit.MSWord.CVE-2012-0158.h (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

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

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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 169,488 bytes
File Type: RTF
Initial Samples Received Date: 03 Jul 2012
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

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

Process Termination

This Trojan terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • hwp.exe

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\scvhost.exe - detected by Trend Micro as BKDR_MIDHOS.DMS

(Note: %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.)

It takes advantage of the following software vulnerabilities to drop malicious files:

NOTES:

It replaces itself with a non-malicious file, and then opens the non-malicious file. It does this in order to hide its malicious routines.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.232.07
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 04 Jul 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.233.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 04 Jul 2012

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Remove malware files dropped/downloaded by TROJ_ARTIEF.DMX

    • BKDR_MIDHOS.DMS

Step 3

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • {malware path and file name}

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_ARTIEF.DMX. 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.

Step 5

Download and apply this security patch Refrain from using these products until the appropriate patches have been installed. Trend Micro advises users to download critical patches upon release by vendors.


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