BKDR_CENTERPOS.A

 Analysis by: Homer Pacag
 Modified by: Anthony Joe Melgarejo

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet

This malware is a new PoS malware discovered by Trend Micro late September 2015 to be targeting US SMBs in particular. Systems affected by this malware may be considered to be compromised due to its backdoor routines.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Backdoor, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

This backdoor may be downloaded from remote sites by other malware.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

71,168 bytes

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

05 Sep 2015

Payload:

Steals information

Arrival Details

This backdoor may be downloaded from remote site(s) by the following malware:

  • BAT_POSCENTER.A

Autostart Technique

This backdoor registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\CenterPoint
ImagePath = "%Windows%\Microsoft .NET\Framework\{Version}\CenterPoint.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\CenterPoint
Description = "DHCP Handler"

It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\CenterPoint

Backdoor Routine

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

  • Uninstall itself
  • Terminate C&C Communication
  • Send Stolen Information Gathered

It connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • http://{BLOCKED}k.com/2kj1h43.php

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

  • OS Version
  • Computer name
  • Malware version: 1.7
  • Localhost name
  • Victim GUID (Md5 encoded sting combination of Processor ID, Mac Address, Serial number)
  • Card track data
  • List of scanned processes

NOTES:

It scans the memory of processes for Track 1 and 2 Card Data.

It skips scanning the following processes:

  • explorer.exe
  • chrome.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • svchost.exe
  • smss.exe
  • csrss.exe
  • wininit.exe
  • steam.exe
  • devenv.exe
  • thunderbird.exe
  • skype.exe
  • services.exe
  • dwm.exe
  • dllhost.exe
  • jusched.exe
  • jucheck.exe
  • lsass.exe
  • winlogon.exe
  • alg.exe
  • wscntfy.exe
  • taskmgr.exe
  • spoolsv.exe
  • QML.exe
  • AKW.exe
  • wdc.exe
  • taskhost.exe
  • searchindexer.exe
  • lsm.exe
  • igfxpers.exe
  • igfxtray.exe
  • hkcmd.exe
  • sqlservr.exe
  • sqlwriter.exe
  • vmnat.exe
  • vmnetdhcp.exe
  • vmware-authd.exe
  • vmware-hostd.exe
  • vmware-tray.exe
  • vmware-usbarbitrator64.exe
  • vmware-usbarbitrator.exe
  • vmware.exe
  • audiodg.exe
  • dfx.exe
  • asldrsrv.exe
  • gfnexsrv.exe
  • jswpbapi.exe
  • atkosd2.exe
  • teamviewer_service.exe
  • dmedia.exe
  • hcontroluser.exe
  • hcontrol.exe
  • pestudio.exe
  • smartassembly.exe
  • rundll32.exe
  • tpautoconnect.exe
  • wuauclt.exe
  • imapi.exe
  • cmd.exe
  • pidgin.exe
  • conhost.exe

It skips scanning a process if its name contains the following strings:

  • system
  • system idle process
  • idle

It skips scanning a process if the Company Name, Legal Copyright, Legal Trademarks, Product Name, File Description in its File Version Info contains the following strings:

  • microsoft
  • apple inc
  • adobe systems
  • intel corporation
  • vmware
  • mozilla

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

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

Remove the malware/grayware file that dropped/downloaded BKDR_CENTERPOS.A. (Note: Please skip this step if the threat(s) listed below have already been removed.)

     
    • BAT_CENTERPOS.A

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • CenterPoint

Step 5

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.