TROJ_DELF.SXE
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
275,968 bytes
EXE
Yes
13 Dec 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:
- %Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Windows%\SpyNet
- %System Root%\Win60
- %System Root%\Win???_CHAR(0x12)_??
- %System Root%\Win???_CHAR(0x07)_??
- %User Profile%\Application Data\SpyNet
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
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
Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2J58XP0K-ERQO-J3F4-1E5X-JB44DFP82S24}
StubPath = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe restart"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2J58XP0K-ERQO-J3F4-1E5X-JB44DFP82S24}
StubPath = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe restart"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "explorer.exe %Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is Explorer.exe.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "explorer.exe %User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is Explorer.exe.)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Active Setup\Installed Components\{2J58XP0K-ERQO-J3F4-1E5X-JB44DFP82S24}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
--((SpyNet))--
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "explorer.exe %Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
--((SpyNet))--
InstalledServer = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell = "explorer.exe %User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
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\Run
Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer\Run
Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
Dropping Routine
This Trojan drops the following files:
- %Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe
- %User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
9.300
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
Identify and delete files detected as TROJ_DELF.SXE using either the Startup Disk or Recovery Console
Step 3
Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options
Step 4
Delete this registry key
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\Active Setup\Installed Components
- {2J58XP0K-ERQO-J3F4-1E5X-JB44DFP82S24}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- Run
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- Run
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
- --((SpyNet))--
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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
- Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2J58XP0K-ERQO-J3F4-1E5X-JB44DFP82S24}
- StubPath = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe restart"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2J58XP0K-ERQO-J3F4-1E5X-JB44DFP82S24}
- StubPath = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe restart"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Shell = "explorer.exe %Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- Server = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\--((SpyNet))--
- InstalledServer = "%Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Shell = "explorer.exe %User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
- Server = "%User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
Step 6
Restore these modified registry values
Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- From: Shell = "explorer.exe %Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
To: Shell = ""Explorer.exe""
- From: Shell = "explorer.exe %Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- From: Shell = "explorer.exe %User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
To: Shell = ""Explorer.exe""
- From: Shell = "explorer.exe %User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe"
Step 7
Search and delete these components
- %Windows%\SpyNet\Server.exe
- %User Profile%\SpyNet\Server.exe
Step 8
Search and delete these folders
- %Windows%\SpyNet
- %System Root%\Win60
- %System Root%\Win???_CHAR(0x12)_??
- %System Root%\Win???_CHAR(0x07)_??
- %User Profile%\Application Data\SpyNet
Step 9
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_DELF.SXE. 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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