BKDR_BTMINE.DDOS

 Analysis by: Karl Dominguez

 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Teniel (Microsoft); Trojan.Gen.2 (Symantec); Trojan.Win32.Scar.enzn (Kaspersky)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This backdoor is a part of a Bitcoin mining malware. It is used to perform DDoS attacks and aids other component malware in stealing Bitcoins from targeted entities.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Backdoor, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

This backdoor contains a list of IP addresses that it tries to connect to in order to send receive information, download other malware, get a new list of IP addresses, and get a list of sites to launch DDoS attacks.

This malware is a part of a package that generate BitCoins. Its component malware BKDR_BTMINE.DDOS performs DDOS attacks against targeted entities.

This backdoor may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,032,704 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

01 Sep 2011

Payload:

Terminates processes, Connects to URLs/IPs

Arrival Details

This backdoor may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Windows%\update.7.1\svchostdriver.exe

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

It creates the following folders:

  • %Windows%\update.7.1

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

Autostart Technique

This backdoor registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice
Type = "10"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice
Start = "2"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice
ErrorControl = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice
ImagePath = "%Windows%\update.7.1\svchostdriver.exe srv"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice
DisplayName = "ddservice"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice\Security
Security = "{hex values}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice\Enum
0 = "Root\LEGACY_DDSERVICE\0000"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice\Enum
Count = "1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\ddservice\Enum
NextInstance = "1"

It adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
ddsoft = "%Windows%\update.7.1\svchostdriver.exe"

It adds and runs the following services:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ddservice

Other System Modifications

This backdoor adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ddsoft

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ddsoft
close = "0"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ddsoft
ver = "2.63"

Process Termination

This backdoor terminates processes or services that contain any of the following strings if found running in the affected system's memory:

  • agava
  • agava_start
  • agnitum
  • alwil
  • avast
  • avast_start
  • avira
  • avira_start
  • comodo
  • comodo_start
  • doctor web
  • drweb
  • drweb_start
  • eset
  • ESET NOD32 Antivirus
  • ESET Smart Security
  • ESET SysInspector
  • ESET SysRescue
  • kaspersky
  • Kaspersky Internet Security 2009
  • Kaspersky Internet Security 2010
  • Kaspersky Internet Security 2011
  • Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0
  • KAV_2008
  • KAV_2009
  • KAV_2010
  • KAV_2011
  • KAV_START
  • KAV_TXT
  • KAV_UNINSTALL
  • KAV_URL
  • mcafee
  • mcafee_start
  • NOD_AV_4_2
  • NOD_AV_START
  • NOD_SS_4_2
  • NOD_SS_START
  • NOD_SYSINSP
  • NOD_SYSRESC
  • NOD_TXT
  • NOD_UNINSTALL
  • norton
  • norton_start
  • outpost
  • Outpost Firewall Pro 7.0
  • outpost_start1
  • outpost_start2
  • virus

Other Details

This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:

  • youtube.com
  • blogspot.com
  • baidu.com
  • wikipedia.org
  • live.com
  • twitter.com

NOTES:

It is a part of a Bitcoin mining malware. It is used to perform DDoS attacks and aids other component malware in stealing Bitcoins from targeted entities. It may be part of a package with BKDR_BTMINE.MNR.

It contains a list of IP addresses that it tries to connect to in order to send receive information, download other malware, get a new list of IP addresses, and get a list of sites to launch DDoS attacks. It builds the URL using the following format:

  • http://{IP address}/search=error
  • http://{IP address}/search=ddos_http_list.txt
  • http://{IP address}/search=ddos_http_list
  • http://{IP address}/dd/knock.php?sid={value}&ver={malware version}

Some of the IP addresses that the malware tries to connect to are:

  • {BLOCKED}9.{BLOCKED}8.234.115
  • {BLOCKED}8.{BLOCKED}0.154.168
  • {BLOCKED}4.{BLOCKED}2.98.224
  • {BLOCKED}8.{BLOCKED}0.136.171
  • {BLOCKED}5.{BLOCKED}7.122.106
  • {BLOCKED}2.{BLOCKED}7.24.44
  • {BLOCKED}1.{BLOCKED}2.131.162
  • {BLOCKED}5.{BLOCKED}0.13.140
  • {BLOCKED}6.{BLOCKED}7.34.157
  • {BLOCKED}8.{BLOCKED}4.64.153

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

8.393.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

01 Sep 2011

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

Remove malware/grayware files that dropped/downloaded BKDR_BTMINE.DDOS

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
    • ddservice
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
    • ddsoft

Step 5

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
    • ddsoft = "%Windows%\update.7.1\svchostdriver.exe"

Step 6

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.
  • %Windows%\update.7.1

Step 7

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