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BKDR_SYKIPOT.AG

September 04, 2013
 Analysis by: Jimelle Monteser
 Modified by: Alvin Bacani
 ALIASES:

Trojan.Win32.Spy (Ikarus), W32/SecRisk-ProcessPatcher-Sml-based!Maximus (FPROT)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware


This backdoor is related to the Sykipot campaign that targets the United States civil aviation sector.

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

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

It injects its dropped file/component to specific processes.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

113,427 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

18 Jul 2013

Payload:

Compromises system security

Arrival Details

This backdoor 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 backdoor injects its dropped file/component to the following processes:

  • outlook.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • chrome.exe
  • opera.exe
  • iexplore.exe

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
office = "%User Profile%\Local Settings\runtime.exe"

Backdoor Routine

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

  • sends system information (Computer name, IP address)
  • downloads and execute component files.

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

  • http://www.{BLOCKED}gvoter.org

Dropping Routine

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • %User Profile%\Local Settings\runtime.exe - detected as BKDR_SYKIPOT.AG
  • %User Profile%\Local Settings\wship4.tmp - detected as BKDR_SYKIPOT.AG

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.162.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

18 Jul 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.163.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

19 Jul 2013

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 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
    • office = %User Profile%\Local Settings\runtime.exe

Step 4

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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 Profile%\Local Settings\runtime.exe
  • %User Profile%\Local Settings\wship4.tmp

Step 5

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