WORM_PYBERTY.A
Python/Liberpy.A (ESET); Python/Liberpy.A!worm (Fortinet);
Windows
Threat Type: Worm
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This worm 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
Arrival Details
This worm 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 worm drops the following files:
- %System Root%\MSDcache\system\system.dll - This is log file that contains all mouse and keyboard activities of the user
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)
It drops the following non-malicious files:
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\_ctypes.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\_hashlib.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\_socket.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\_ssl.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\_win32sysloader.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\bz2.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\Crypto.Cipher._AES.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\mfc90.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\mfc90u.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\mfcm90.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\mfcm90u.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\Microsoft.VC90.CRT.manifest
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\Microsoft.VC90.MFC.manifest
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\msvcm90.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\msvcp90.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\msvcr90.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\pyexpat.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\pyHook._cpyHook.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\python27.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\pythoncom27.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\pywintypes27.dll
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\select.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\unicodedata.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\win32api.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\win32file.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\win32pipe.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\win32trace.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\win32ui.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\win32wnet.pyd
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\eggs\pyperclip-1.5.4-py2.7.egg
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\include\pyconfig.h
- %User Temp%\{random char}\gen_py\__init__.py
- %User Temp%\{random char}\gen_py\dicts.dat
(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\MSDcache
- %System Root%\MSDcache\system
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\eggs
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}\include
- %User Temp%\{random char}
- %User Temp%\{random char}\gen_py
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
Autostart Technique
This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Liberty(Malware Version).exe = %System Root%\MSDcache\Liberty(Malware Version).exe
Propagation
This worm creates the following folder in all physical and removable drives:
- {drive}:\MSDcache
It drops the following copy of itself in all physical and removable drives:
- {drive}:\MSDcache\Liberty{Malware Version}.exe
- {drive}:\MSDcache\Liberty1.0.bat - batch file that executes the malware
- {drive}:\MSDcache\Liberty1.0.bat.lnk - shortcut for the batch file
Download Routine
This worm downloads an updated copy of itself from the following website(s):
- http://{BLOCKED}ickupdate.ddns.net
- http://{BLOCKED}pdate.{BLOCKED}s.net
- http://{BLOCKED}pdate.{BLOCKED}s.net
It saves the files it downloads using the following names:
- %System Root%\MSDCache\Liberty{Malware Version}.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.)
Information Theft
This worm gathers the following data:
- Mouse click coordinates
- Keyboard key press
- Last window name clicked
NOTES:
Should the log file %System Root%/MSDcache/system/system.dll reaches over 50,000 bytes in size, it compresses the log file into:
- %System Root%/MSDcache/{Hash of the Current Time and Date}.zip - deleted after encryption
An example of the log system.dll that this malware creates viewed on a text editor is below:
It encrypts the created archive into:
- %System Root%/MSDcache/{Hash of Current Time and Date}.zip.enc
The encrypted archive is sent to following URLs:
- http://{BLOCKED}ickupload.ddns.net
- http://{BLOCKED}pload.ddns.net
- http://{BLOCKED}pload.ddns.net
The log file is deleted and replaced by a new one to begin the capture of mouse clicks and keyboard key presses.
SOLUTION
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
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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
- Liberty(Malware Version).exe = %System Root%\MSDcache\Liberty(Malware Version).exe
- Liberty(Malware Version).exe = %System Root%\MSDcache\Liberty(Malware Version).exe
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %System Root%\MSDcache
- %User Temp%\_MEI{random numbers}
- %User Temp%\{random char}
- {drive}:\MSDcache
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as WORM_PYBERTY.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.
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_PYBERTY.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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