BKDR_ANDROM.AT

 Analysis by: Anthony Joe Melgarejo

 ALIASES:

Worm:Win32/Gamarue (Microsoft), Backdoor.Trojan (Symantec), PWS-Zbot.gen.aob (McAfee)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • 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.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

66919 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Oct 2012

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 User's Profile}\Local Settings\Temp\ms{random characters}.{extension name}
  • {All User's Profile}\svchost.exe

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 User's Profile}\svchost.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
Explorer\Run
{random number} = "{All User's Profile}\Local Settings\Temp\ms{random characters}.{extension name}"

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} "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:{malware file name without extension}""

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following possibly malicious URL:

  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.68.244/image.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.114.163/r.pack

NOTES:

The {extension name} is any of the following:

  • BAT
  • CMD
  • COM
  • EXE
  • PIF
  • SCR

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

9.468.04

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

16 Oct 2012

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

9.469.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

17 Oct 2012

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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as BKDR_ANDROM.AT

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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 User's Profile}\svchost.exe"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run
    • {random number} = "{All User's Profile}\Local Settings\Temp\ms{random characters}.{extension name}"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
    • {malware path and file name} = "{malware path and file name} "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:{malware file name without extension}""

Step 5

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