BKDR_ALINA.SM

 Analysis by: Homer Pacag
 Modified by: Jon Dexter Laurin

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Downloaded from the Internet


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

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

165,376 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 Feb 2015

Payload:

Connects to URLs/IPs, Steals information

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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:

  • %Application Data%\Install\winfax12.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Application Data%\Install

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

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
winfax12 = %Application Data%\Install\winfax12.exe

Other System Modifications

This backdoor deletes the following files:

  • %Application Data%/kos.exe
  • %Application Data%/kos1.exe
  • %Application Data%/kos2.exe
  • %Application Data%/kos3.exe
  • %Application Data%/kos4.exe
  • %Application Data%/kos5.exe
  • %Application Data%/kos6.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)

Backdoor Routine

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

  • Updating the Malware
  • Updating the Card Interval
  • Stealing the Card Information
  • Logging

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

  • http://{BLOCKED}eycome.cc/alinew/cinp.php?cmd=1
  • http://{BLOCKED}eycome.cc/alinew/loading.php

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

  • Card Exfiltration Interval
  • Malware Update Interval
  • Logs
  • URL of Malware for updating
  • URL of other malware to be downloaded and executed

As of this writing, the said servers are currently inaccessible.

Information Theft

This backdoor gathers the following data:

  • Public IP Address
  • Computer Name
  • Passwords from the VNC Clients:
    • RealVNC
    • TightVNC
    • TigerVNC
    • UltraVNC
  • Credit Card Numbers

Other Details

This backdoor deletes the initially executed copy of itself

NOTES:

This backdoor lists current running processes, encrypts, and sends them via C&C. It monitors system memory for tracking data.

It skips scanning the following processes:

  • AKW.exe
  • alg.exe
  • chrome.exe
  • csrss.exe
  • dbsrv10.exe
  • devenv.exe
  • dllhost.exe
  • dwm.exe
  • explorer.exe
  • firefox.exe
  • hostmgr.exe
  • iexplore.exe
  • java.exe.
  • jucheck.exe
  • jusched.exe
  • logmein.exe
  • lsass.exe
  • oimanagerapp.exe
  • QML.exe
  • services.exe
  • skype.exe
  • smss.exe
  • spoolsv.exe
  • steam.exe
  • svchost.exe
  • taskmgr.exe
  • thunderbird.exe
  • wininit.exe
  • winlogon.exe
  • wscntfy.exe

This backdoor sends the stolen VNC passwords and public IP address to the email address {BLOCKED}@yahoo.com via Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.750

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

11.474.07

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

12 Feb 2015

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

11.475.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

12 Feb 2015

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

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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
    • winfax12 = %Application Data%\Install\winfax12.exe

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ 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. %Application Data%\Install

Step 6

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