TSPY_KATES.SMR
Infostealer.Daonol!gen (Symantec); Trojan:Win32/Daonol.I (Microsoft); Trojan-PSW.Win32.Kates.j (Kaspersky); Lando (Mcafee); Troj/Delf-FDQ (Sophos)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Spyware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This spyware hooks certain APIs to perform its malicious routines. It hooks functions in ws2_32.dll to intercept data. It then waits for the user to access an FTP site then steals the user name and password used.
It then sends the gathered data to a remote IP address. It monitors the HTTP headers being sent by searching for certain strings. It sends the stolen HTTP header to a remote URL as part of the HTTP header. However, as of this writing, the said site is inaccessible.
It blocks sites containing certain strings. It also attempts to remove itself if certain processes are running.
This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It does not have any downloading capability.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Varies
DLL
18 Oct 2009
Blocks websites
Arrival Details
This spyware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Autostart Technique
This spyware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32
midi9 = "{malware path and file name} 0yAAAAAAAA"
It modifies the following registry entries to ensure it automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
AppInit_DLLs = "winmm.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "".)
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"
Propagation
This spyware does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This spyware does not have any backdoor routine.
Download Routine
This spyware does not have any downloading capability.
NOTES:
It hooks the following APIs to perform its malicious routine:
- NtOpenKey
- CreateProcessW
- ExitProcess
Information Theft
It hooks the following functions in ws2_32.dll to intercept data:- connect
- send
- recv
- WSASend
- WSARecv
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}5.246.34
- HTTP
- GET
- Host:
- Referer:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}5.246.34/x/?{BLOCKED}xilnoasuedpwpsswtrbkvctwsmrul0
However, as of this writing, the said site is inaccessible.
It blocks sites containing the following strings:- DaonolFix
- Anti
- Adob
- AVPU
- CAUp
- COMO
- Enig
- ESS
- LIVE
- Live
- McHT
- NOD3
- Nort
- Pand
- SpyS
- SUPE
- TMUF
- IceSword
- Malwarebytes
SOLUTION
8.900
6.580.01
27 Oct 2009
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
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TSPY_KATES.SMR
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Search and delete the file detected as TSPY_KATES.SMR
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 NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32
- midi9 = "{malware path and file name} 0yAAAAAAAA"
- midi9 = "{malware path and file name} 0yAAAAAAAA"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
- LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"
- LoadAppInit_DLLs = "1"
Step 6
Restore this modified 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 NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
- From: AppInit_DLLs= "winmm.dll"
To: AppInit_DLLs= ""
- From: AppInit_DLLs= "winmm.dll"
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_KATES.SMR. 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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