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WORM_LOVGATE.GEN

February 24, 2020
 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Lovgate.W@mm (Microsoft); W32/Lovgate.a.x@MM (McAfee); W32.Lovgate.R@mm (Symantec); Email-Worm.Win32.LovGate.w (Kaspersky); W32/Lovgate-V (Sophos); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt)

 PLATFORM:

Windows

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

  • 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:

128,000 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

24 Feb 2020

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 adds the following processes:

  • net.exe stop "Symantec AntiVirus Client"
  • net.exe stop "Symantec AntiVirus Server"
  • net.exe stop "Rising Realtime Monitor Service"
  • NetMeeting.exe
  • rundll32.exe ODBC16.dll ondll_install
  • rundll32.exe ODBC16.dll ondll_reg
  • %System%\net1 stop "Rising Realtime Monitor Service"
  • %System%\net1 stop "Symantec AntiVirus Server"
  • %System%\net1 stop "Symantec AntiVirus Client"

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)

Autostart Technique

This Worm 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\_reg
ImagePath = "Rundll32.exe msjdbc11.dll ondll_server"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)
ImagePath = "Rundll32.exe msjdbc11.dll ondll_server"

Other System Modifications

This Worm adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
Hardware Profile = "%System%\hxdef.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
run = "RAVMOND.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
Microsoft NetMeeting Associates, Inc. = "NetMeeting.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run\VFW Encoder
Decoder Settings = "RUNDLL32.EXE MSSIGN30.DLL ondll_reg"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
runServices
SystemTra = "%Windows%\SysTra.EXE"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
Shell Extension = "%System%\spollsv.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
services\Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)
Description = "Windows Advanced Server. Performs scheduled scans for LANguard."

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
Protected Storage = "RUNDLL32.EXE MSSIGN30.DLL ondll_reg"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\_reg
DisplayName = "_reg"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\_reg
Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)
DisplayName = "Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)
Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

Dropping Routine

This Worm drops the following files:

  • M:\pass.ZIP
  • %User Temp%\msjdbc11.dll
  • %System Root%\COMMAND.EXE
  • %System%\ODBC16.dll
  • %User Temp%\results.txt
  • K:\install.ZIP
  • R:\pass.RAR
  • H:\setup.ZIP
  • S:\install.ZIP
  • W:\install.ZIP
  • Z:\setup.ZIP
  • %System%\spollsv.exe
  • F:\install.ZIP
  • L:\install.RAR
  • P:\pass.ZIP
  • G:\setup.ZIP
  • Y:\letter.RAR
  • F:\MSSIGN30.DLL
  • F:\data\WinLines.exe
  • %System%\NetMeeting.exe
  • Q:\setup.RAR
  • J:\letter.ZIP
  • %System%\MSSIGN30.DLL
  • D:\install.ZIP
  • O:\bak.RAR
  • F:\data\WinLines.ZMX
  • U:\setup.RAR
  • X:\install.RAR
  • I:\WORK.ZIP
  • N:\bak.ZIP
  • V:\pass.ZIP
  • %Windows%\SYSTRA.EXE
  • E:\letter.RAR
  • %System Root%\install.ZIP
  • F:\mail_client.ZMX
  • %System%\msjdbc11.dll
  • T:\setup.RAR
  • F:\mail_client.exe
  • %System%\RAVMOND.exe
  • %System%\kernel66.dll
  • %System%\hxdef.exe
  • %System%\IEXPLORE.EXE

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)

Other Details

This Worm connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}o.com
  • http://mx.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://mail.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://mx.{BLOCKED}o.com
  • http://mx.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://mail.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://smtp.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://mx1.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://mxs.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://mx.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://mail1.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://mail.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://relay.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://ns.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://smtp.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://gate.{BLOCKED}l.com
  • http://mail.{BLOCKED}o.com
  • http://smtp.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://mx1.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://mxs.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://mail1.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://relay.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://ns.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://gate.{BLOCKED}e.com
  • http://mx1.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://mxs.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://mail1.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://relay.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://ns.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://gate.{BLOCKED}m.com
  • http://{BLOCKED}fice.org

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.850

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

Identify and terminate files detected as WORM_LOVGATE.GEN

[ Learn More ]
  1. Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
  2. If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
  3. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

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\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Hardware Profile = "%System%\hxdef.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • run = "RAVMOND.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Microsoft NetMeeting Associates, Inc. = "NetMeeting.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\VFW Encoder
    • Decoder Settings = "RUNDLL32.EXE MSSIGN30.DLL ondll_reg"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\runServices
    • SystemTra = "%Windows%\SysTra.EXE"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Shell Extension = "%System%\spollsv.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)
    • Description = "Windows Advanced Server. Performs scheduled scans for LANguard."
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Protected Storage = "RUNDLL32.EXE MSSIGN30.DLL ondll_reg"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\_reg
    • DisplayName = "_reg"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\_reg
    • Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)
    • DisplayName = "Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Windows Management Protocol v.0 (experimental)
    • Start = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"

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.
  • M:\pass.ZIP
  • %User Temp%\msjdbc11.dll
  • %System Root%\COMMAND.EXE
  • %System%\ODBC16.dll
  • %User Temp%\results.txt
  • K:\install.ZIP
  • R:\pass.RAR
  • H:\setup.ZIP
  • S:\install.ZIP
  • W:\install.ZIP
  • Z:\setup.ZIP
  • %System%\spollsv.exe
  • F:\install.ZIP
  • L:\install.RAR
  • P:\pass.ZIP
  • G:\setup.ZIP
  • Y:\letter.RAR
  • F:\MSSIGN30.DLL
  • F:\data\WinLines.exe
  • %System%\NetMeeting.exe
  • Q:\setup.RAR
  • J:\letter.ZIP
  • %System%\MSSIGN30.DLL
  • D:\install.ZIP
  • O:\bak.RAR
  • F:\data\WinLines.ZMX
  • U:\setup.RAR
  • X:\install.RAR
  • I:\WORK.ZIP
  • N:\bak.ZIP
  • V:\pass.ZIP
  • %Windows%\SYSTRA.EXE
  • E:\letter.RAR
  • %System Root%\install.ZIP
  • F:\mail_client.ZMX
  • %System%\msjdbc11.dll
  • T:\setup.RAR
  • F:\mail_client.exe
  • %System%\RAVMOND.exe
  • %System%\kernel66.dll
  • %System%\hxdef.exe
  • %System%\IEXPLORE.EXE

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_LOVGATE.GEN. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:


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