Arrival Details
This spyware 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 spyware adds the following folders:
- %All Users Profile%\Application Data\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %Application Data%\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\sppc.exe
- %System%\wsauth.exe
(Note: %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
Its DLL component is injected to the following process(es):
- explorer.exe
- iexplore.exe
- firefox.exe
- chrome.exe
- services.exe
Autostart Technique
This spyware 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\wsauth
ImagePath = "%System%\wsauth.exe -s"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wsauth
DisplayName = "Windows Software Protection"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wsauth
Description = "This windows service enables the download, installation and enforcement of digital licenses for Windows and Windows applications. If the service is disabled, the operating system and licensed applications may run in a notification mode. It is strongly recommended that you not disable the Software Protection Service."
It adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
dumpnsta = "%Application Data%\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\sppc.exe"
It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\wsauth
File Infection
This spyware infects the following files:
Propagation
This spyware drops copies of itself in the following drives:
- removable drives
- network drives
It drops copies of itself in network drives such as the following:
It drops the following copy(ies) of itself in all removable drives:
Information Theft
This spyware gathers the following data:
- System Information (Please see notes for more details)
- Running processes and services
- Installed device drivers
- Programs installed
- Screenshots
Stolen Information
This spyware sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to the following URL:
- http://{random letters}.{domain}/pki/mscorp/crl/msiwww2.crl
- http://{random letters}.{domain}/pki/mscorp/crl/MSIT%20Machine%20Auth%20CA%202(1).crl
- where {domain} can be any of the following:
Other Details
This spyware does the following:
- It hooks the following WININET.DLL exported functions when the DLL component is loaded in IEXPLORE.EXE to monitor network traffic:
- HttpOpenRequestA
- HttpOpenRequestW
- HttpSendRequestA
- HttpSendRequestW
- HttpQueryInfoA
- HttpQueryInfoW
- InternetReadFile
- InternetReadFileExA
- InternetReadFileExW
- InternetQueryDataAvailable
- It hooks the following NSS3.DLL or NSPR4.DLL exported functions when the DLL component is loaded in FIREFOX.EXE to monitor network traffic:
- PR_Read
- PR_Write
- PR_Close
- PR_Poll
- PR_Available
- It hooks unnamed functions exported by CHROME.DLL when the DLL component is loaded in CHROME.EXE to monitor network traffic.
- If CHROME.DLL is not found, it will hook the following APIs exported by KERNEL32.DLL:
- LoadLibraryA
- LoadLibraryW
- LoadLibraryExA
- LoadLibraryExW
- It will drop and execute a temporary file, %User Temp%\~{random}.tmp, which is responsible in injecting its embedded DLL component to the said processes stated above. The temporary file will terminate and delete itself, afterwards. This dropped component is detected as TSPY_URSNIF.SM3.
(Note: %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
NOTES:
It issues the following commands in Command Prompt (cmd) to gather its stolen information:
- systeminfo
- tasklist /SVC (enumerate processes and services)
- driverquery (gather information on installed drivers)
- reg.exe query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s (gather installed programs)
Systeminfo will return the following system information:
- Host Name
- OS Name, Version, Manufacturer, Configuration and Build Type
- Registered Owner and Organization
- Product ID
- Original Install Date
- System Up Time
- System Manufacturer, Model and type
- Processor(s)
- BIOS version
- Windows and System directory
- Boot Device
- System and Input Locale
- Time Zone
- Total and Available Memory
- Virtual Memory information (Max, Available, In Use)
- Page file locations
- Domain
- Logon server
- Hotfix(s)
- Network card(s)
The information gathered will be saved to temporary file %User Temp%\~{random}.tmp, which serves as its stolen information dump/log file. After the file is sent to its C&C server, the malware will delete it.
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
Remove malware/grayware files dropped/downloaded by PE_URSNIF.A-O. (Note: Please skip this step if the threats listed below have already been removed.)
- PE_URSNIF.A1
- PE_URSNIF.A2
- TSPY_URSNIF.SM3
Step 4
Restart in Safe Mode
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 5
Delete this registry key
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=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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
To delete the registry key this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field, and press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>Services - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
wsauth - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
Delete this registry value
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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\Run
- dumpnsta = "%Application Data%\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\sppc.exe"
To delete the registry value this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
dumpnsta = "%Application Data%\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\sppc.exe" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 7
Search and delete this folder
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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.
- %Application Data%\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
To delete the malware/grayware folder:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the Named input box, type:
- %Application Data%\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
Step 8
Search and delete these files
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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.
- %User Temp%\~{random}.tmp
To delete malware/grayware files:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type
- %User Temp%\~{random}.tmp
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
- Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %User Temp%\~{random}.tmp
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
- Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PE_URSNIF.A-O. 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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