BKDR_QAKBOT.NCM
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Backdoor
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
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 sends the information it gathers to remote sites.
It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain specific strings.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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:
- %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.)
It injects itself into the following processes as part of its memory residency routine:
- explorer.exe
- iexplore.exe
Backdoor Routine
This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to send and receive commands from a remote malicious user:
- {BLOCKED}son.in
- {BLOCKED}istr.in
- {BLOCKED}vtkn.in.ua
- {BLOCKED}uytdk.info
- {BLOCKED}mentis.org
- {BLOCKED}asudskfoe.org
- {BLOCKED}iakfuuasd.net
Process Termination
This backdoor terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- msdev.exe
- dbgview.exe
- mirc.exe
- ollydbg.exe
- ctfmon.exe
Information Theft
This backdoor monitors the Internet Explorer (IE) activities of the affected system, specifically the address bar or title bar. It recreates a legitimate website with a spoofed login page if a user visits banking sites with the following strings in the address bar or title bar:
- /achupload
- /cmserver/
- /corpach/
- /payments/ach
- /stbcorp/
- /wcmpr/
- /wcmpw/
- /wcmtr/
- /wiret
- achbatchlisting
- businessaccess.citibank.citigroup.com
- businessonline.huntington.com
- businessonline.tdbank.com
- cbs.firstcitizensonline.com
- chsec.wellsfargo.com
- commercial.wachovia.com
- commercial2.wachovia.com
- commercial3.wachovia.com
- commercial4.wachovia.com
- goldleafach.com
- iachwellsprod.wellsfargo.com
- merica.com
- scotiaconnect.scotiabank.com
- tcfexpressbusiness.com
- trz.tranzact.org
- ub-businessonline.blilk.com
- wc.wachovia.com
- wcp.wachovia.com
- webexpress.tdbank.com
- wellsoffice.wellsfargo.com
It sends the information it gathers to remote sites.
Other Details
This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:
- http://www.ip-adress.com/
- http://www.ipaddressworld.com/
It prevents users from visiting antivirus-related websites that contain the following strings:
- explabs.
- sanasecurity
- phishtank.com
- hautesecure.com
- truste.com
- clearclouddns
- webroot.
- agnitum
- ahnlab
- arcabit
- avast
- avg
- avira
- avp
- bitdefender
- bit9
- castlecops
- centralcommand
- clamav
- comodo
- computerassociates
- cpsecure
- defender
- drweb
- emsisoft
- esafe
- .eset
- etrust
- ewido
- fortinet
- f-prot
- f-secure
- gdata
- grisoft
- hacksoft
- hauri
- ikarus
- jotti
- k7computing
- kaspersky
- malware
- mcafee
- networkassociates
- nod32
- norman
- norton
- panda
- pctools
- prevx
- quickheal
- rising
- rootkit
- securecomputing
- sophos
- spamhaus
- spyware
- sunbelt
- symantec
- threatexpert
- threatfire
- trendmicro
- virus
- wilderssecurity
- windowsupdate
- update.microsoft.
- download.microsoft.
NOTES:
This backdoor is capable of connecting to a certain IRC server using a certain port and joins a channel where it receives commands from a malicious user. It sends the following information to its C&C server:
- data
- dnsname
- domain
- ex_addr
- ex_code
- ex_module
- ex_module_base
- ext_ip
- host
- hostname
- install_time
- is_admin
- lb
- login
- nick
- os
- pass
- pass
- qbot_version
- th_args
- th_flags
- th_title
- time
- url
- user
This backdoor gathers passwords by monitoring the following applications:
- iexplore.exe
- outlook.exe
- firefox.exe
- opera.exe
- skype.exe
- msnmsgr.exe
- yahoomessenger.exe
- msmsgs.exe
- wscntfy.exe
- wuauclt.exe
SOLUTION
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as BKDR_QAKBOT.NCM
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
Step 5
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as BKDR_QAKBOT.NCM. 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.
NOTES:
For Step 4, please take note of the folder location of the files detected in Step 2.
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