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TROJ_AGENT.AAWZ

June 18, 2013
 ALIASES:

TrojanDownloader:Win32/Adload (Microsoft); Downloader-BCF (McAfee); Adware.MaxSearch (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Agent.bqn (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Generic.pak!cobra (Sunbelt); Trojan horse Downloader.Generic6.LIS.dropper (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

46,592 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

10 Jun 2013

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 creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\WinAble

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
WinAble = "%Program Files%\WinAble\winable.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WinAble

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\New Windows\Allow

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WinAble
DisplayName = "WinAble"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
WinAble
UninstallString = "%Program Files%\WinAble\winable.exe -uninstall"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
Param3 = "MTA="

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
Param4 = "MzAw"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
Param2 = "MA=="

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\New Windows\Allow
*.starsdoor.com = "{random values}"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
Param1 = "MTMwMTQ4OTI4MDAwMDAwMDAw"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\WinAble\winable.exe.lzma
  • %Program Files%\WinAble\winable.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • WinAble
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID
    • {28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\New Windows
    • Allow

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
    • WinAble = "%Program Files%\WinAble\winable.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WinAble
    • DisplayName = "WinAble"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WinAble
    • UninstallString = "%Program Files%\WinAble\winable.exe -uninstall"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
    • Param3 = "MTA="
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
    • Param4 = "MzAw"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
    • Param2 = "MA=="
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\New Windows\Allow
    • *.starsdoor.com = "{random values}"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{28AD0FD0-0960-1033-0622-1222120001}
    • Param1 = "MTMwMTQ4OTI4MDAwMDAwMDAw"

Step 5

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %Program Files%\WinAble\winable.exe.lzma
  • %Program Files%\WinAble\winable.exe

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Program Files%\WinAble

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_AGENT.AAWZ. 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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