Analysis by: Erika Bianca Mendoza
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan opens the non-malicious .PDF document so that the user does not suspect of any malicious activity in the system.

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 376,832 bytes
File Type: PDF
Initial Samples Received Date: 07 Sep 2011
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives as an attachment to email messages spammed by other malware/grayware or malicious users.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\Winword.exe - TROJ_SYSWRT.DVD

(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 drops the following non-malicious file:

  • %User Temp%\Adobe.pdf
  • %Current Folder%\iso88591

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

It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.

Other Details

More information on this vulnerability can be found below:

NOTES:
It then opens the non-malicious .PDF document so that the user does not suspect of any malicious activity in the system. The PDF has the following subject:

  • "Summer Davos" in Asia Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2011

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 8.409.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 08 Sep 2011

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_PDFKA.DQ

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%\Adobe.pdf
  • %Current Folder%\iso88591

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_PDFKA.DQ. 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.

NOTES:

For updates on available workarounds and patches for this vulnerability, please refer to the following page:


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