WORM_OTOTI.QNLR

 Modified by: Vincent Martin Hermosura

 ALIASES:

Worm.Win32.AutoRun.hfx (Kaspersky), Bloodhound.Malautoit (Symmantec), Trojan.Win32.AutoIT.gen (v) (Sunbelt), TR/Dropper.Gen (Antivir), Gen:Trojan.Heur.AutoIT.2 (Bitdefender), W32/AutoRun.HFX!worm (Fortinet), Worm.Win32.AutoIt (Ikarus), Win32/Autoit.HL.Gen worm, Win32/Autoit.HL.Gen worm (Esset), Trj/Chgt.E (Panda)

 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: Worm

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware, Downloaded from the Internet, Via removable drives


This worm arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system. It 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.

It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

17,535,453 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

08 Sep 2014

Payload:

Terminates processes, Drops files

Arrival Details

This worm arrives by connecting affected removable drives to a system.

It 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 worm drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System Root%\mgy.exe
  • %System%\mgy.exe
  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\smss.exe
  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe
  • %Program Files%\ESET\nod32.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

It drops the following file(s)/component(s):

  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\lsass.exe
  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\icserv.exe
  • %Windows%\MGY.EXE

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.)

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
mgy = "%System%\mgy.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Msmsgs = "%System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe"

Other System Modifications

This worm adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
system

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\System

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
regedit.exe = "%System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
msconfig.exe = "%System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
rstrui.exe = "%System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
taskmgr.exe = "%System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
notepad.exe = "%System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\System
DisableGPO = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
DisableConfig = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
DisableSR = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\
Microsoft\Windows\Installer
DisableMSI = "2"

It modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
SuperHidden = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
HideFileExt = "1"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "2"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 2.)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoDriveTypeAutoRun = "5b"

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 91.)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
System = "%System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\smss.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
NoFind = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoFolderOptions = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
system
DisableTaskMgr = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
system
DisableRegistryTools = "1"

Propagation

This worm drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.

The said .INF file contains the following strings:

[autorun]
open=mgy.exe
shellexecute=mgy.exe
shell\Explore\command=mgy.exe
shell\Open\command=mgy.exe
shell=Explore

Dropping Routine

This worm drops the following files:

  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\autorun.inf
  • %Program Files%\ESET\nod32.exe

(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\Windows\System32.. %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files in Windows 2000, Server 2003, and XP (32-bit), Vista (32-bit), and 7 (32-bit), or C:\Program Files (x86) in Windows XP (64-bit), Vista (64-bit), and 7 (64-bit).)

NOTES:

The name of the folders that is found in the root directory of removable drives are used by the malware to name its dropped copies in the said removable drives.

These folders' attribute are then set to Hidden.

The file attributes of AUTORUN.INF file and its dropped copy in removable drives are set to Read-only, Hidden and System.

Every July, this malware records its number of executions in the following registry:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\MGY COUNT = "{numeric character}"

When it reaches its 10th execution, this malware runs its dropped file (%Windows%\MGY.EXE). It also adds the following registry entries:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Shell = "MGY.exe"

HKLM\SOFTWARE\MGY OBJ1 = "READY"

In July of its 10th execution, this malware terminates the process "explorer.exe" and copies its dropped file (%Windows\%MGY.EXE as Explorer.exe and executes this after successful copying of files. It then adds the following registry entry:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Shell = "Explorer.exe"

In its 10th execution, this malware executes its dropped files/components:

  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\icserv.exe
  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\lsass.exe

It disables the Tray Icon. This malware shutdowns the affected system if the following processes are found running:

  • msconfig.exe
  • rstrui.exe

It terminates the following processes:

  • Wscript.exe
  • cmd.exe
  • handydriver.exe
  • kerneldrive.exe
  • nod32krn.exe
  • nod32kui.exe
  • winsystem.exe

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.700

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

Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Enable Registry Editor, Task Manager, and Folder options

[ Learn More ]
By doing this step, you also enable other applications/programs disabled by this malware/grayware/spyware.

Step 5

Delete this registry key

[ 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\Policies
    • system
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
    • System
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT
    • SystemRestore

Step 6

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
    • mgy = %System%\mgy.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Msmsgs = %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • ShowSuperHidden = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
    • regedit.exe = %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
    • msconfig.exe = %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
    • rstrui.exe = %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
    • taskmgr.exe = %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths
    • notepad.exe = %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\csrss.exe
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
    • DisableGPO = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
    • DisableConfig = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\SystemRestore
    • DisableSR = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer
    • DisableMSI = 2

Step 7

Restore these modified registry values

[ Learn More ]

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • SuperHidden = 0
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: HideFileExt = 1
      To: HideFileExt = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
    • From: Hidden = 2
      To: Hidden = 2
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
    • From: NoDriveTypeAutoRun = 5b
      To: NoDriveTypeAutoRun = 91
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • System = %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\smss.exe

Step 8

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
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%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}

Step 9

Search and delete these components

[ Learn More ]
There may be some components 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.
  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\lsass.exe
  • %System%\{271287-000021-100287-705016}\icserv.exe
  • %Windows%\MGY.EXE
  • %Program Files%\ESET\nod32.exe

Step 10

Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by WORM_OTOTI.QNLR that contain these strings

[ Learn More ]
[autorun]
open=mgy.exe
shellexecute=mgy.exe
shell\Explore\command=mgy.exe
shell\Open\command=mgy.exe
shell=Explore

Step 11

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