BKDR_ANDROM.AWA

 Analysis by: Rika Joi Gregorio

 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Gamarue.F(Microsoft), W32/Andromeda.UBD!tr.dldr(Fortinet), Worm.Win32.Gamarue(Ikarus), Win32/TrojanDownloader.Wauchos.A trojan(Eset)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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 deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

137,216 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

27 Mar 2014

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:

  • %All Users Profile%\svchost.exe
  • %All Users Profile%\Local Settings\Temp\{random}.{random extension}
  • %Program Data%\svchost.exe (Windows Vista and above)
  • %User Temp%\{random}.exe (Windows Vista and above)

(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users or Common profile folder, which is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and C:\ProgramData in Windows Vista and 7.. %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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
SunJavaUpdateSched = "%All Users Profile%\svchost.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
540 = "%All Users Profile%\Local Settings\Temp\{random}.{random extension}"

Other System Modifications

This backdoor creates the following registry entry(ies) to bypass Windows Firewall:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
{malware path and file name} = "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:Marko"

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}cgrvkj.ru/in.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}ph.su/in.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}tvmein.in/in.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}wsqhct.in/in.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}onzmwuehky.nl/in.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}ososoft.ru/in.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}ph.su/in.php

It deletes itself after execution.

NOTES:
Where {random extension} can be any of the following :

  • bat
  • cmd
  • com
  • exe
  • pif
  • scr

It checks if it is being run in a VMWare environment. If it is being run in a VMWare environment, it performs another routine where it will open Port 8000 and listen for a backdoor command for performing remote shell execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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 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
    • SunJavaUpdateSched = "%All Users Profile%\svchost.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
    • 540 = "%All Users Profile%\Local Settings\Temp\{random}.{random extension}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • {malware path and file name} = "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:Marko"

Step 4

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


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.