TROJ_KRAP.SMEP

 Modified by: Kathleen Notario

 ALIASES:

Rogue:Win32/FakeRean (Microsoft)

 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 arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It employs registry shell spawning by adding certain registry entries. This allows this malware to execute even when other applications are opened.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

157,184 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

12 Apr 2010

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 files:

  • %Application Data%\g1oOP77

(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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data%\av.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.)

Autostart Technique

This Trojan employs registry shell spawning to ensure its execution when certain file types are accessed by adding the following entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\
open\command
(Default) = ""%Application Data%\av.exe" /START "%1" %*"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\
open\command
(Default) = ""%Application Data%\av.exe" /START "%1" %*"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows
Identity = "{hex value}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
DisableNotifications = "1"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe
(Default) = "secfile"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is exefile.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\
open\command
(Default) = ""%Application Data%\av.exe" /START "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe""

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\
safemode\command
(Default) = ""%Application Data%\av.exe" /START "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\
StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\
open\command
(Default) = ""%Application Data%\av.exe" /START "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe""

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallDisableNotify = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusOverride = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallOverride = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess
Start = "4"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}ows-live-care.com
  • {BLOCKED}nlive-2010.com
  • {BLOCKED}relive.com
  • {BLOCKED}dows-live.com
  • {BLOCKED}live.com
  • {BLOCKED}e-live.com
  • {BLOCKED}n-live-2010.com
  • {BLOCKED}nlive.com
  • {BLOCKED}elive.com
  • {BLOCKED}-live.com
  • {BLOCKED}d2010.com
  • {BLOCKED}ve-care2010.com
  • {BLOCKED}care.com

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

6.990.08

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

12 Apr 2010

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

6.991.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

13 Apr 2010

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

Identify and terminate files detected as TROJ_KRAP.SMEP

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

Restore this modified registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator’s help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\open\command
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command

Step 4

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
    • Identity = "{hex value}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
    • EnableFirewall = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
    • DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile
    • DisableNotifications = "1"

Step 5

Restore this modified 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_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe
    • From: (Default) = "secfile"
      To: (Default) = "exefile"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command
    • From: (Default) = ""%Application Data%\av.exe" /START "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe""
      To: (Default) = "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command
    • From: (Default) = ""%Application Data%\av.exe" /START "%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode"
      To: (Default) = ""%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command
    • From: (Default) = ""%Application Data%\av.exe" /START "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe""
      To: (Default) = "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"
      To: AntiVirusDisableNotify = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: FirewallDisableNotify = "1"
      To: FirewallDisableNotify = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"
      To: UpdatesDisableNotify = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: AntiVirusOverride = "1"
      To: AntiVirusOverride = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • From: FirewallOverride = "1"
      To: FirewallOverride = "0"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess
    • From: Start = "4"
      To: Start = "2"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • From: EnableFirewall = "0"
      To: EnableFirewall = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
    • From: DisableNotifications = "1"
      To: DisableNotifications = "0"

Step 6

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.  
  • %Application Data%\g1oOP77

Step 7

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_KRAP.SMEP. 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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