TROJ_FAKEAV.AXH


 ALIASES:

TrojanSpy:Win32/Agent (Microsoft); Generic Dropper!n (McAfee); Trojan.Dropper (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); DeepScan:Generic.Malware.P!Pkg.C716B3EE (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It disables Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Folder Options.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

438,272 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

14 May 2012

Arrival Details

This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
UUSEE = "%Program Files%\Common Files\uusee\UUSeeMediaCenter.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %Program Files%\pipi\HttpDownLoad.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\run

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu
{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\run
mssn = "%User Temp%\set.exe"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://{BLOCKED}x.com"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd={SUB_PRD}&clcid={SUB_CLSID}&pver={SUB_PVER}&ar=home.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = "http://{BLOCKED}x.com"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome.)

It creates the following registry entry(ies) to disable Task Manager, Registry Tools and Folder Options:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoInternetIcon = "1"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\Common Files\bieshawo.gif
  • %Program Files%\COMMON~1\mint2.bat
  • %System%\f873348001.dll
  • %User Temp%\CPAAD.MDB

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows NT and 2000, or C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Server 2003.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://a.{BLOCKED}w.cncount/count.asp?{random characters}
  • http://www.{BLOCKED}w.cn/CPAAD.MDB
  • http://eibe.{BLOCKED}s.com/page/yiun608.txt
  • http://eibb.{BLOCKED}s.com/page/yiun608.txt

It deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

Step 1

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.

Step 2

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options

[ Learn More ]
By doing this step, you also enable other applications/programs disabled by this malware/grayware.

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons
    • ClassicStartMenu
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons
    • NewStartPanel
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • run

Step 5

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
    • UUSEE = "%Program Files%\Common Files\uusee\UUSeeMediaCenter.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu
    • {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
    • {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\run
    • mssn = "%User Temp%\set.exe"

Step 6

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Start Page = "http://{BLOCKED}x.com"
      To: Start Page = ""http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd={SUB_PRD}&clcid={SUB_CLSID}&pver={SUB_PVER}&ar=home""
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Start Page = "http://{BLOCKED}x.com"
      To: Start Page = ""http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome""

Step 7

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
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.
  • %Program Files%\Common Files\bieshawo.gif
  • %Program Files%\COMMON~1\mint2.bat
  • %System%\f873348001.dll
  • %User Temp%\CPAAD.MDB

Step 8

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

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Program Files%\pipi\HttpDownLoad.exe


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