Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 Modified by: Rika Joi Gregorio

ALIASES:

W32/Injector.WDX!tr (Fortinet)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Dropped by other malware

This backdoor may be dropped by other malware.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information.

It retrieves specific information from the affected system.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 155,648 bytes
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 18 Dec 2012
Payload: Compromises system security, Steals information, Terminates processes

Arrival Details

This backdoor may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_ARTIEF.IU

Installation

This backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\360\Live360.exe
  • %Application Data%\temp\temp1.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.)

It adds the following processes:

  • winlogon.exe

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\360
  • %Application Data%\temp

(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.)

It stays memory-resident by injecting codes into the following processes:

  • winlogon.exe

Autostart Technique

This backdoor adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
UKey = "%Application Data%\360\Live360.exe"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKCU\Software\rar

HKLM\SOFTWARE\rar

It adds the following registry entries:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\rar
data = "{random characters}"

HKLM\SOFTWARE\rar
s = "{random characters}"

HKLM\SOFTWARE\rar
ActiveSettings = "{random characters}"

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Log keystrokes
  • Download and execute file(s)
  • Manipulate files
  • Manipulate directories
  • Steals user credentials such as user name and passwords, which are related to the following applications:

    -Internet Explorer Password-Protected sites
    -Microsoft Outlook
    -HTTP
    -IMAP
    -Protected Storage
    -POP3
    -SMTP
    -HTTPMail
    -Windows Messaging

It connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}der.{BLOCKED}p.net

Process Termination

This backdoor terminates processes or services that contain any of the following strings if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • 360Safe
  • 360safe.exe
  • 360sd.exe
  • 360tray.exe
  • AVGIDSMonitor.exe
  • Avast
  • FProt
  • FProtTray.exe
  • FrzState2K.exe
  • KAVsvc.exe
  • KSafeTray.exe
  • KVwsc.exe
  • LiveUpdate360
  • MPMon.exe
  • Mcafee
  • Mcshield.exe
  • NOD32
  • RavMon.exe
  • RavMonD.exe
  • RsTray.exe
  • SfCtlCom.exe
  • UfNavi.exe
  • UfSeAgnt.exe
  • WinMe
  • ZhuDongFangYu.exe
  • ashServ.exe
  • avgrsx.exe
  • avp.exe
  • ccSvcHst.exe
  • ekrn.exe
  • explorer.exe
  • kav.exe
  • kwstray.exe
  • kxetray
  • nod32krn.exe
  • nscsrvce.exe
  • ravtask.exe
  • rising.exe
  • rtvscan.exe
  • ESET Filter Service
  • ESET5

Information Theft

This backdoor retrieves the following information from the affected system:

  • Local IP address
  • Operating system
  • Computer name
  • User name
  • Processor information

Other Details

This backdoor deletes the initially executed copy of itself

NOTES:

It decrypts two DLL files in memory which it injects to its created instance of winlogon.exe. The DLL components are also detected as BKDR_HGDER.A.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.300
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 9.602.02
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 18 Dec 2012
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.603.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 19 Dec 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

Remove the malware/grayware file dropped/downloaded by BKDR_HGDER.A

     TROJ_ARTIEF.IU

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Application Data%\360
  • %Application Data%\temp

Step 5

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
    • rar
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • rar

Step 6

Delete this registry value

[ 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • UKey = "%Application Data%\360\Live360.exe"

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_HGDER.A. 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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