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WORM_RBOT.APP

May 16, 2013
 ALIASES:

Backdoor:Win32/Rbot (Microsoft); W32/Sdbot.worm.gen.g (McAfee); W32.Spybot.Worm (Symantec); Backdoor.Win32.Rbot.gen (Kaspersky); Trojan.Win32.Ircbot!cobra (v) (Sunbelt); Trojan horse IRC/BackDoor.SdBot2.PNB (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

 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:

102,400 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 May 2013

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 drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System%\mws.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

Autostart Technique

This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
OLE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Lsa

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Ole
Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Control\Lsa
Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
OLE
Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Lsa
Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

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 key

[ 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • RunServices
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
    • RunServices
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
    • OLE
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
    • Lsa

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    • Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    • Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Ole
    • Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Lsa
    • Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OLE
    • Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
    • Microsoft Winsock System = "mws.exe"

Step 5

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