Arrival Details
This worm may be dropped by other malware.
It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
Installation
This worm drops the following files:
- %System Report%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.exe - copy of itself
- %System Report%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.dll - dll component also WORM_QAKBOT.USL
- %System Report%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}\{random name}.dll - encrypted configuration file
It creates the following folders:
- %System Report%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}
- %System Report%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}\u\
It is injected into the following processes running in memory:
Autostart Technique
This worm adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random name} = "%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{legitimate application} = ""%System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" /c {path and file name of legitimate application}"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {path and file name of legitimate application}.)
Rootkit Capabilities
This worm also has rootkit capabilities, which enables it to hide its processes and files from the user.
NOTES:
Propagation
This worm enumerates network shares and drops a copy of the main executable and the package file to default shares.
Payload
This worm's configuration file contains the following information:
- Reference to the components and their corresponding random file names in the system
- IRC data
- FTP hosts (upload sites)
- infection log
It is capable of monitoring the browsing activities of the infected computer and logs all information related to finance-related websites containing the following strings:
- /cashman/
- /cashplus/
- /cmserver/
- access.jpmorgan.com
- businessaccess.citibank.citigroup.com
- business-eb.ibanking-services.com
- businessonline.huntington.com
- cashproonline.bankofamerica.com
- cpw-achweb.bankofamerica.com
- directline4biz.com
- directpay.wellsfargo.com
- ebanking-services.com
- express.53.com
- ibc.klikbca.com
- itreasury.regions.com
- itreasurypr.regions.com
- ktt.key.com
- moneymanagergps.com
- netconnect.bokf.com
- onb.webcashmgmt.com
- onlineserv/CM
- premierview.membersunited.org
- singlepoint.usbank.com
- tmconnectweb
- treas-mgt.frostbank.com
- treasury.pncbank.com
- web-cashplus.com
It may also collect the following information:
- Account name
- City
- Country
- IE password protected sites
- IE user names and passwords
- IP address
- MSN user name and password
- Operating system
- Outlook user name and password
This worm blocks access to websites with the following strings:
- .eset
- agnitum
- ahnlab
- arcabit
- avast
- avg
- avira
- avp
- bit9
- bitdefender
- castlecops
- centralcommand
- clamav
- comodo
- computerassociates
- cpsecure
- defender
- drweb
- emsisoft
- esafe
- 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
- trendmicro
- virus
- webroot.
- wilderssecurity
- windowsupdate
It does not continue its routine if its host process is any of the following:
- ctfmon.exe
- dbgview.exe
- mirc.exe
- msdev.exe
- ollydbg.exe
This worm also drops a JavaScript (JS) file detected as JS_QAKBOT.SM which is responsible for downloading updated components of this malware. It then creates a scheduled task that executes this script every four hours.
It downloads updated components from the following websites:
- {BLOCKED}rv.co.in
- {BLOCKED}01.in
- {BLOCKED}ver.com.ua
- {BLOCKED}03.com.ua
It saves the downloaded components in the following folder:
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder}\u
It sends the information gathered to the following sites using credentials from its configuration file:
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.134.75
- ftp.{BLOCKED}formation.com
- ftp.{BLOCKED}scentral.com
- s046.{BLOCKED}oxmanager.com
It may also connect to IRC servers and receive commands from a remote user.
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
Remove malware files dropped/downloaded by WORM_QAKBOT.USL
Step 3
Identify and delete files detected as WORM_QAKBOT.USL using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
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To identify and delete the malware/grayware file:
- Insert your Windows Installation CD in your CD-rom.
- Press the restart button of your computer.
- When prompted, press any key to boot from the CD.
- When prompted on the Main Menu, type r to enter the recovery console.
(Note: On Windows 2000, after pressing r, type c to choose the Recovery Console in the repair options screen.) - When prompted, type your administrator password to log on.
- Once logged in, type the drive that contains Windows in the command prompt that appears, then press Enter.
- Type the drive that contains Windows, then press Enter.
- Type the following, then press Enter:
del {malware/grayware path and file name} - Repeat the above procedure for all files detected earlier.
- Type exit to restart the system normally.
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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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
- {random name} = %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, then press Enter.
- In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
{random name} = %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data>Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Restore this modified registry value
[ learnMore ]
[ back ]
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
- From: {legitimate application} = %System Report%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe /c {path and file name of legitimate application}
To: {legitimate application} = {path and file name of legitimate application}
To restore the registry value this malware/grayware modified:
- Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
- In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
{legitimate application} = %System Report%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe /c {path and file name of legitimate application} - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
{legitimate application} = {path and file name of legitimate application} - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
Search and delete this folder
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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.
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}
To delete the malware/grayware folder:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the Named input box, type:
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\{random folder name}
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as WORM_QAKBOT.USL. 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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