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OSX_SABPAB.A

October 09, 2012
 Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 ALIASES:

OSX.Sabpab (Symantec); OSX/Sabpab-A (Sophos)

 PLATFORM:

Mac OS X

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel:

Dropped by other malware

This backdoor may be dropped by other malware.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

42,556 bytes

File Type:

Mach-O

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Apr 2012

Payload:

Compromises system security

Arrival Details

This backdoor may be dropped by the following malware:

  • TROJ_MDROP.SBPAB

Installation

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • /Library/Preferences/com.apple.PubSabAgent.pfile - backdoor component
  • /Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.PubSabAgent.plist - autostart component

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Create processes
  • Download and execute file(s)
  • Capture screenshot(s)
  • Upload file(s) to a remote server

It connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • rtx556.{BLOCKED}b.com

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

8.916.03

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

16 Apr 2012

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.917.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

16 Apr 2012

Step 1

Remove malware/grayware files that dropped/downloaded OSX_SABPAB.A

NOTES:

Step 2

Delete the autostart file used by this malware. To delete the autostart file, open a Terminal window and type the following command:

"rm "/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.PubSabAgent.plist"

Step 3

Terminate the malware process. To terminate the malware process, open a Terminal window and perform the following:

  1. Enter the following command:

    ps -A

  2. In the Terminal window, search for a line similar to the following:

    {number} ?? Ss {time} /Library/Preferences/com.apple.PubSabAgent.pfile

    Take note of the number. This number is the malware process ID (PID)
  3. Enter the following command:

    kill {malware PID}

Step 4

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as OSX_SABPAB.A. 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.

To open a Terminal window, double-click Applications > Utilities > Terminal in Finder.

Close Terminal by pressing ⌘ (Command) + Q.


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