Arrival Details
This Trojan arrives via removable drives.
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 Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %User Profile%\{random}\{random}.exe
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
{random} = %User Profile%\{random}\{random}.exe
It drops the following file(s) in the Windows Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
- %User Startup%\{random}.lnk - shortcut to dropped copy
(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = 1
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 0.)
Propagation
This Trojan drops copies of itself in all removable drives.
It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.
NOTES:
This is the Trend Micro detection for malware that uses a custom packer (or a “hacker” packer) to avoid detection. This sample belongs to the VOBFUS malware family that uses the custom packer. Note that this detection may also detect malware that belongs to other malware family (see TROJ_HPMYAPP)
Custom packer routines
It checks if the following file exists:
It checks if it is executed on a virtual machine by searching for the following processes and terminates itself if found:
- vmtoolsd.exe
- VBoxService.exe
It checks if the executed copy of itself contains the following virtual machine module and terminates itself if found:
Once the custom packer completes the system check, it will decrypt and execute the embedded malware. As a result, the behavior of the embedded malware is exhibited on the affected system.
VOBFUS Routines
It checks if it is executed on a virtual machine by searching for the following strings and terminates itself if found:
- *VIRTUAL*
- *VMWARE*
- *VBOX*
- *QEMU*
It drops .LNK files in removable drives that point to a copy of itself. This is done to trick users into clicking the shorcut files and execute the malware copy. These .LNK files use the following file names:
- Love You.exe
- Nude.exe
- Sex.exe
- Money.exe
- Secret Folder.lnk
- Favourites.lnk
- Documents.lnk
- Private.lnk
- Passwords.lnk
- Movies.lnk
- Music.lnk
- Search.lnk
- Pictures.lnk
It also uses the names of existing folders and names of files with the following extensions:
- avi
- bmp
- doc
- gif
- jpe
- jpg
- mp3
- mp4
- mpg
- pdf
- png
- tif
- txt
- wav
- wma
- wmv
- xls
This routine enables the copy of the worm to execute first before opening the real folder or file. It then changes the attributes of the original folders and files to Hidden and System to avoid early detection.
It may attempts to connect to the following remote DNS server:
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk1.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk2.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk3.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk4.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk5.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk6.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk7.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk9.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk10.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk11.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk12.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk13.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk15.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk16.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk17.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk18.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk19.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk20.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk22.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk23.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk24.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk25.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk28.com
- nsi.{BLOCKED}imechk29.com
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
Identify and terminate files detected as TROJ_HPMYAPP.SM
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- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
To terminate the malware/grayware/spyware process:
- Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and take note of the name of the malware/grayware/spyware detected.
- Open Windows Task Manager. To do this, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- View the list of all running programs. To do this:
• For Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, 7 and Server 2008 users, click the Processes tab.
• For Windows 8, 8.1 and Server 2012 users, click the Details tab. - In the list of running programs, locate a malware/grayware/spyware file detected earlier.
- Select the detected files, then press either the End Task or the End Process button, depending on the version of Windows you are using.
- Do the same for the remaining detected malware/grayware/spyware files in the list of running programs.
- To check if the malware/grayware/spyware process has been terminated, close Task Manager, and then open it again.
- Close Task Manager.
Step 3
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
- {random} = %User Profile%\{random}\{random}.exe
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» 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 of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
{random} = %User Profile%\{random}\{random}.exe - Close Registry Editor.
Step 4
Restore this modified registry value
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[ back ]
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\Advanced
- From: ShowSuperHidden = 1
To: ShowSuperHidden = 0
To restore the registry value this malware/grayware modified:
- 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>Explorer>Advanced - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
ShowSuperHidden = 1 - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
ShowSuperHidden = 0 - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Search and delete this file
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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.
Love You.exe
Nude.exe
Sex.exe
Money.exe
Secret Folder.lnk
Favourites.lnk
Documents.lnk
Private.lnk
Passwords.lnk
Movies.lnk
Music.lnk
Search.lnk
Pictures.lnk
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
Love You.exe
Nude.exe
Sex.exe
Money.exe
Secret Folder.lnk
Favourites.lnk
Documents.lnk
Private.lnk
Passwords.lnk
Movies.lnk
Music.lnk
Search.lnk
Pictures.lnk
- 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.
*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:
Love You.exe
Nude.exe
Sex.exe
Money.exe
Secret Folder.lnk
Favourites.lnk
Documents.lnk
Private.lnk
Passwords.lnk
Movies.lnk
Music.lnk
Search.lnk
Pictures.lnk
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_HPMYAPP.SM. 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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