Analysis by: Lord Alfred Remorin

ALIASES:

Exploit:Win32/CVE-2012-0158.N (Microsoft)

 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 takes advantage of vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office that could allow remote code execution. After successfully exploiting the said vulnerability, it drops a file detected as BKDR_SWAMI.TIB.

Upon execution, it opens a .DOC file in order to hide its malicious routines from the user.

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.

It executes the files it drops, prompting the affected system to exhibit the malicious routines they contain.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: Other
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 11 Aug 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.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following non-malicious file:

  • %User Temp%\AAAA

(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.)

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

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

    It executes the files it drops, prompting the affected system to exhibit the malicious routines they contain.

    NOTES:

    Upon execution, this backdoor opens the non-malicious dropped file %User Temp%\AAAA in order to hide its malicious routines from the user.

      SOLUTION

    Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
    VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 9.318.02
    VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 13 Aug 2012
    OPP PATTERN File: 9.319.00
    OPP PATTERN Date: 13 Aug 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.TIB

    Step 3

    Search and delete these files

    [ 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.
    • %User Temp%\AAAA

    Step 4

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