BKDR_PROXY.XTQ

 Analysis by: Nikko Tamana

 ALIASES:

Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Agent.xnkg (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware

This backdoor may be dropped by other malware.

It does not have any propagation routine.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

15,374,848 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

27 Dec 2012

Payload:

Compromises system security, Connects to URLs/IPs, Downloads files, Steals information

Arrival Details

This backdoor may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_DROPPER.XTR

Installation

This backdoor drops and executes the following files:

  • %Windows%\Tasks\conime.exe - also detected as BKDR_PROXY.XTQ

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

Autostart Technique

This backdoor adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
taskday = "%Windows%\tasks\conime.exe"

Propagation

This backdoor does not have any propagation routine.

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Execute files
  • Perform remote shell
  • Sleep for a specified amount of time
  • Download file from C&C server
  • Uninstall itself from affected machine

It connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:

  • http://{BLOCKED}013.{BLOCKED}u.com/a.asp?id={Encrypted Information}{Date and Time of Connection}
  • http://{BLOCKED}013.{BLOCKED}w.us/a.asp?id={Encrypted Information}{Date and Time of Connection}
  • http://{BLOCKED}hristmas.{BLOCKED}s.info/grc/index.asp?id={Encrypted Information}{Date and Time of Connection}

It posts the following information to its command and control (C&C) server:

  • Computer Name
  • Local IP Address
  • Proxy Server IP and Port
  • Malware ID

However, as of this writing, the said sites are inaccessible.

Download Routine

This backdoor saves the files it downloads using the following names:

  • %User Temp%\temps.ini

(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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

Information Theft

This backdoor gathers the following data:

  • Malware ID
  • Computer Name
  • Local IP Address
  • Proxy Server IP and Port

NOTES:

Where {Encrypted Information} contains encrypted Malware ID, Computer Name, Local IP Address and Proxy Server and IP Port. {Date and time of connection} is {Day}%20{Month}%20{Day of Month}%20{Hours:Minutes:Seconds}{Year}.

It does not have rootkit capabilities.

It does not exploit any vulnerability.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

9.620.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

27 Dec 2012

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.621.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

28 Dec 2012

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

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded BKDR_PROXY.XTQ

Step 3

Identify and terminate files detected as BKDR_PROXY.XTQ

[ 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 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\CurrentVersion\Run
    • taskday = "%Windows%\tasks\conime.exe"

Step 5

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.
  • %User Temp%\temps.ini

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as BKDR_PROXY.XTQ. 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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