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TROJ_STARTPA.KB

October 08, 2012
 Analysis by: Erika Bianca Mendoza
 ALIASES:

Microsoft: Trojan:Win32/Rimod; PANDA: Trj/StartPage.DAW

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It uses the default Windows folder icon to trick users into opening the file. Double-clicking the file executes this malware.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

387097 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Mar 2011

Payload:

Drops files

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be dropped by other malware.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %WINDOWS%\crashreport.exe
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Startup\crashreport.exe
  • %systemroot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\crashreport.exe

(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %currentdir%\{malware file name}

It uses the default Windows folder icon to trick users into opening the file. Double-clicking the file executes this malware.

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
Kaspersky = "%WINDIR%\crashreport.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
HideFileExt = 1

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)

NOTES:
It modifies the following registry entry to change the browser's start page:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
Start Page = {URL}

The value in {URL} can be any of the following:
  • http://bit.ly/79kFgS
  • http://bit.ly/4NF9KJ
  • http://bit.ly/5owex2
  • http://bit.ly/6WRH0o
  • http://bit.ly/6EbEeu
  • http://bit.ly/5n75wl
Note: Default value for this entry varies.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

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

Terminate a process file/s detected as TROJ_STARTPA.KB

[ Learn More ]

*Note: If the detected file/s is/are not displayed in theWindows Task Manager, 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Kaspersky = "%WINDIR%\crashreport.exe"

Step 4

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: HideFileExt = "1"
      To: HideFileExt = "0"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    • From: Start Page = "{URL}"
      To: Start Page = "{varies}"

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
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.
  • %currentdir%\{malware file name}

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_STARTPA.KB. 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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