BKDR_NATEQJ.A

 Analysis by: Jimelle Monteser

 ALIASES:

Trojan:AutoIt/Nateqj.A (Microsoft), Trojan.Win32.Autoit.bjn (v) (Sunbelt), W32/Autoit.IZ!tr (Fortinet), Trojan.Win32.Bublik (Ikarus), Win32/Autoit.IZ worm (NOD32)

 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: 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

329,097 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

29 Aug 2013

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.

Installation

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

  • %User Startup%\njq8ishere.exe
  • %User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe

(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.. %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 Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{malware filename}.exe = "%User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{malware filename}.exe = "%User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe"

Other System Modifications

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ControlSet001\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
%User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe = "%User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe:*:Enabled:njq8ishere.exe"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\njq8ishere.ini

(Note: %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.)

Other Details

This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}deservers.com:1888
  • http://n.{BLOCKED}s.biz

NOTES:

This backdoor removes the hidden attributes to the following files:

  • %System Root%\IO.SYS
  • %System Root%\IPH.PH
  • %System Root%\MSDOS.SYS
  • %System Root%\NDETECT.COM
  • %System Root%\NTLDR

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

10.258.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

05 Sep 2013

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

10.259.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

05 Sep 2013

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {malware filename}.exe = "%User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • {malware filename}.exe = "%User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • %User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe = "%User Temp%\njq8ishere.exe:*:Enabled:njq8ishere.exe"

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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.
  • %User Temp%\njq8ishere.ini

Step 5

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