Arrival Details
This Trojan may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
Installation
This Trojan drops the following files:
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\@
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\X
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\U
- %Windows%\1493438348
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista and 7.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan 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\8c0f0459
ImagePath = "\systemroot\1493438348:1945172902.exe"
It adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "%Application Data%\8c0f0459\X"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
It also creates the following registry entry(ies) as part of its installation routine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
cid = "{hex values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\8c0f0459
u = "dword:00000075"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\8c0f0459
id = "{hex values}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
u = "dword:00000075"
Rootkit Capabilities
This Trojan also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.
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
Identify and delete files detected as RTKT_ZACESS.SMAE using the Recovery Console
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To identify and delete of malware/grayware files:
- Insert your Windows Installation CD in your CD-rom.
- Press the restart button of your computer.
- When prompted, press any key to boot from the CD.
- When prompted on the Main Menu, type r to enter the recovery console.
(Note: On Windows 2000, after pressing r, type c to choose the Recovery Console in the repair options screen.) - When prompted, type your administrator password to log on.
- Once logged in, type the drive that contains Windows in the command prompt that appears, then press Enter.
- Type the drive that contains Windows, then press Enter.
- Type the following, then press Enter:
del {malware/grayware path and file name} - Repeat the above procedure for all files detected earlier.
- Type exit to restart the system.
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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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_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface
- {b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
To delete registry keys this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, then press Enter.
- In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT>Interface - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da} - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>Services - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
8c0f0459 - Close Registry Editor.
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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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 NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Shell = "%Application Data%\8c0f0459\X"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\8c0f0459
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\8c0f0459
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Interface\{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da}
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, then press Enter.
- In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Shell = "%Application Data%\8c0f0459\X" - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Classes>Interface>{b1041c7f-46ea-d87c-4a51-abba7b80f3da} - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
cid = "{hex values}" - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>8c0f0459 - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
u = "dword:00000075" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
id = "{hex values}" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
u = "dword:00000075" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Search and delete these files
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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.
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\@
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\X
To delete malware/grayware component files:
- Search for the following files:
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\@
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459\X
Note: To do a search for the following files, right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running. For each file to be deleted, type its file name in the Named input box. In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter. - Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the file.
- Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
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[ back ]
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%\8c0f0459
- %Windows%\1493438348
To delete malware/grayware/spyware folders:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the Named input box, type:
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459
- %Windows%\1493438348
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the remaining folders:
- %Application Data%\8c0f0459
- %Windows%\1493438348
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as RTKT_ZACESS.SMAE. 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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