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

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 110,592 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: No
Initial Samples Received Date: 22 Dec 2011
Payload: Drops files

Arrival Details

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

It may be dropped by the following malware:

  • JAVA_DLOAD.ZZC

Installation

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Windows%\ime\wmimachine2.dll - detected by Trend Micro as BKDR_PPOINTER.SM

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)

Its DLL component is injected to the following process(es):

  • svchost.exe

Autostart Technique

This Trojan registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
Type = "dword:00000020"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
ErrorControl = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
ImagePath = "%SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
DisplayName = ".NET Runtime Optimization Service v2.086521.BackUp_X86"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}
Description = "Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\{first netsvcs}\Parameters
ServiceDll = "%Windows%\ime\wmimachine2.dll"

NOTES:
It queries the following registry and checks the first value that does not have a service installed:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SvcHost\netsvcs

Once found, it uses this name as its DLL component's service name. Usually, the first it finds is:

  • 6to4

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.200
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 8.664.03
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 24 Dec 2011
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 8.665.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 25 Dec 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 the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded TROJ_PPOINTER.SM

Step 3

Remove malware/grayware files dropped/downloaded by TROJ_PPOINTER.SM

Step 4

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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.

  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • {first netsvcs}

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_PPOINTER.SM. 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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