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Worm.Win32.NETSKY.Q

May 07, 2019
 Analysis by: Maureen Reyes
 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Netsky.Q@mm (Microsoft)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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

File Size:

28,008 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 May 2012

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\sysmonxp.exe

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SysMonXP = "%Windows%\SysMonXP.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Worm deletes the following registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E6FB5E20-DE35-11CF-9C87-00AA005127ED}\
InProcServer32

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
PINF

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\WksPatch

Dropping Routine

This Worm drops the following files:

  • %Windows%\firewalllogger.txt
  • %Windows%\zippedbase64.tmp

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

14.984.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

07 May 2019

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

14.985.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

08 May 2019

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 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 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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • SysMonXP = "%Windows%\SysMonXP.exe"

Step 4

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.
  • %Windows%\firewalllogger.txt
  • %Windows%\zippedbase64.tmp

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Worm.Win32.NETSKY.Q. 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 6

Restore these deleted registry keys/values from backup

*Note: Only Microsoft-related keys/values will be restored. If the malware/grayware also deleted registry keys/values related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on your computer.

  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E6FB5E20-DE35-11CF-9C87-00AA005127ED}
    • InProcServer32
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    • PINF
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • WksPatch


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