TROJ_STARTP.SMIJ


 ALIASES:

Trojan.ADH (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT (Sunbelt); Trojan horse Startpage.PPA (AVG)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • 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

File Size:

163,840 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Jun 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.

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • %Windows%\RegText.reg

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

It adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\
DefaultIcon

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\
Shell\Open(&O)

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\
Shell\Open(&O)\Command

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\
Shell\ÊôÐÔ(&R)\Command

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\
ShellFolder

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Desktop\NameSpace\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu
{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\ShellFolder
Attributes = "0"

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
NoDesktopCleanupWizard = "1"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\SIGNUP\iexplore.exe

(Note: %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).)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

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

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 3

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\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons
    • ClassicStartMenu
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons
    • NewStartPanel
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID
    • {FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}
    • DefaultIcon
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\Shell
    • Open(&O)
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\Shell\Open(&O)
    • Command
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\Shell\ÊôÐÔ(&R)
    • Command
  • In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}
    • ShellFolder
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace
    • {FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}

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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu
    • {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
    • {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} = "1"
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{FF5D0589-76A7-AF11-AB16-59306CC8D88E}\ShellFolder
    • Attributes = "0"

Step 5

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some files 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.
  • %Program Files%\Internet Explorer\SIGNUP\iexplore.exe

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_STARTP.SMIJ. 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.

Step 7

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • %Windows%\RegText.reg


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