BKDR_QAKBOT.MEOF

 Analysis by: Vincent Martin Hermosura

 ALIASES:

Trojan-Spy.Win32.SpyEyes.aqul (Kaspersky), Backdoor:Win32/Qakbot (Microsoft), W32.Qakbot (Symmantec), RDN/Akbot!c (Mcafee), Backdoor.Win32.Qakbot (Sunbelt), BDS/Qakbot.A.172 (Antivir), W32/SpyEyes.L.gen!Eldorado (Authentium), Trojan.GenericKD.1816192 (Bitdefender), W32/SpyEyes.AQUL!tr (Fortinet), Trojan.Win32.Qbot (Ikarus), Win32/Qbot.BH trojan (Esset)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 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, Via removable drives, Via Network Shares, Via peer-to-peer shares

This backdoor arrives via peer-to-peer (P2P) shares. It arrives via removable drives. It 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:

245,760 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Aug 2014

Payload:

Terminates processes, Steals information, , Compromises system security

Arrival Details

This backdoor arrives via peer-to-peer (P2P) shares.

It arrives via removable drives.

It may arrive via network shares.

It 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:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe

(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.)

It drops the following non-malicious file:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.dll

(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.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}

(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.)

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
{random name} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe"

It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
ctfmon.exe = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe /c %System%\ctfmon.exe"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %System%\ctfmon.exe.)

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • facebook.com/login.php

It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • {BLOCKED}auskmt.pw
  • {BLOCKED}heusas.org
  • {BLOCKED}cmasn.net
  • {BLOCKED}kdfasjdmtf.org
  • {BLOCKED}psgrn.com
  • {BLOCKED}tmaksjdo.net
  • {BLOCKED}aqmi.net
  • {BLOCKED}uakyat.org
  • {BLOCKED}hatdfsaf.net
  • {BLOCKED}geyaihudmn.org
  • {BLOCKED}kahdmansgip.org
  • {BLOCKED}ifdnaetra.net

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

Step 1

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 2

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as BKDR_QAKBOT.MEOF

Step 4

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

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. %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}

Step 6

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
    • {random name} = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe"

Step 7

Restore this modified 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
    • From: ctfmon.exe = "%User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\{random}\{random}.exe /c %System%\ctfmon.exe"
      To: ctfmon.exe = %System%\ctfmon.exe

Step 8

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_QAKBOT.MEOF. 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 9

The following created files/folders/registry keys/registry entries cannot be identified by the user since there are no reference values in the created key. The only way it can be identified is by comparing the present system information with a backup. Note that the said components do not have to be deleted since it won't be harmful to the system.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {random name)


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