Autostart Technique
This file infector registers its dropped component as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup. It does this by creating the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\amsint32
Type = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\amsint32
Start = "3"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\amsint32
ErrorControl = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\amsint32
ImagePath = "\??\%System%\drivers\{random file name}.sys"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Services\amsint32
DisplayName = "amsint32"
Other System Modifications
This file infector adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{random characters}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusOverride = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
FirewallOverride = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UacDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
AntiVirusOverride = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
FirewallDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
FirewallOverride = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
UacDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center\Svc
UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
EnableFirewall = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
DisableNotifications = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\
FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\
List
{malware path and file name} = "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:ipsec"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "2"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
File Infection
This file infector infects the following file types:
Propagation
This file infector drops copies of itself in all removable and physical drives found in the system.
It drops an AUTORUN.INF file to automatically execute the copies it drops when a user accesses the drives of an affected system.
The said .INF file contains the following strings:
[AutoRun];
{garbage characters}
shELl\\EXplOrE\\cOmMand= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
sheLL\\OPen\\cOMMaND= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
shEll\\open\\DefAuLt=1;
{garbage characters}
OPen= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
shelL\\aUToPLAy\\command = {random file name}.exe
Dropping Routine
This file infector drops the following files:
- %System%\drivers\{random file name}.sys - detected as RTKT_SALITY.BA
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
Other Details
This file infector attempts to access the following websites to download files, which are possibly malicious:
- http://{BLOCKED}3.{BLOCKED}3.19.14/logo.gif
- http://{BLOCKED}metgrup.com/images/logosa.gif
- http://{BLOCKED}asa.com/images/logos.gif
- http://{BLOCKED}tara.com/logof.gif
- http://{BLOCKED}nt-eg.com/images/logosa.gif
- http://{BLOCKED}wel.fm.interia.pl/logos.gif
- http://{BLOCKED}lie.com/images/logos.gif
- http://www.{BLOCKED}becreatives.com/logos.gif
- http://www.{BLOCKED}ogullari.com/logof.gif
- http://{BLOCKED}uncil.ya.funpic.de/images/logos.gif
It does the following:
- It deletes the file %System%\drivers\{random file name}.sys after adding and running the service amsint32.
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
NOTES:
Files with file size of 30 MB and above are corrupted by this malware after system infection.
Step 1
AUTOMATIC REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS
To automatically remove this malware from your system, use Trend Micro's special fixtool. Download, extract, and run the said fixtool in the same folder where your latest Trend Micro pattern file is located. For more details, refer to the fixtool's incorporated text file.
MANUAL REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS
Step 2
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 3
Identify and terminate files detected as PE_SALITY.RL
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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 4
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- FirewallDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
- AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
- FirewallDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\Svc
- UpdatesDisableNotify = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
- DoNotAllowExceptions = "0"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile
- DisableNotifications = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List
- {malware path and file name} = "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:ipsec"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\amsint32
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\amsint32
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\amsint32
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\amsint32
- ImagePath = "\??\%System%\drivers\{random file name}.sys"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\amsint32
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_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Security Center - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
AntiVirusOverride = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
FirewallDisableNotify = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
FirewallOverride = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
UacDisableNotify = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
UpdatesDisableNotify = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
AntiVirusDisableNotify = "1" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Security Center>Svc - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
AntiVirusOverride = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
FirewallDisableNotify = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
FirewallOverride = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
UacDisableNotify = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
UpdatesDisableNotify = "1" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>policies>system - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
EnableLUA = "0" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet> Services>SharedAccess>Parameters>FirewallPolicy>StandardProfile - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
EnableFirewall = "0" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
DoNotAllowExceptions = "0" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
DisableNotifications = "1" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet> Services>SharedAccess>Parameters>FirewallPolicy>StandardProfile>AuthorizedApplications>List - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
{malware path and file name} = "{malware path and file name}:*:Enabled:ipsec" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>System>CurrentControlSet>Services>amsint32 - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Type = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Start = "3" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ErrorControl = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ImagePath = "\??\%System%\drivers\{random file name}.sys" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
DisplayName = "amsint32" - Close Registry Editor.
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 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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
To delete the registry key this malware/grayware/spyware created:
- Restart your computer in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page. If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to #2.
- 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 - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
{random characters} - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
Restore these modified registry values
[ Learn More ]
[ back ]
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_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: Hidden = "2"
To: Hidden = "1"
To restore registry values this malware/grayware modified:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
- On Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003:
Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - On Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008:
Click the Start button, type REGEDIT in the Search input field then press Enter. - On Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012:
Right-click on the lower left corner of the screen and click Run, type REGEDIT in the Run input field, 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:
Hidden = "2" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
Hidden = "1" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 7
Search and delete AUTORUN.INF files created by PE_SALITY.RL that contain these strings
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[AutoRun];
{garbage characters}
shELl\EXplOrE\cOmMand= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
sheLL\OPen\cOMMaND= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
shEll\open\DefAuLt=1;
{garbage characters}
OPen= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
shelL\aUToPLAy\command = {random file name}.exeTo identify and delete AUTORUN.INF files created:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click the Start button then choose Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the File name* input box, type:
AUTORUN.INF - In the Look in: drop-down list, select a drive, then press Enter.
- Select the file, then open using Notepad.
- Check if the following lines are present in the file:
[AutoRun];
{garbage characters}
shELl\EXplOrE\cOmMand= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
sheLL\OPen\cOMMaND= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
shEll\open\DefAuLt=1;
{garbage characters}
OPen= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
shelL\aUToPLAy\command = {random file name}.exe - If the lines are present, delete the file.
- Repeat steps 3 to 6 for the remaining AUTORUN.INF files in other remaining removable drives.
- Close Search Results.
*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 2003, 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:
AUTORUN.INF - Select the file, then open using Notepad.
- Check if the following lines are present in the file:
[AutoRun];
{garbage characters}
shELl\EXplOrE\cOmMand= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
sheLL\OPen\cOMMaND= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
shEll\open\DefAuLt=1;
{garbage characters}
OPen= {random file name}.exe;
{garbage characters}
shelL\aUToPLAy\command = {random file name}.exe - If the lines are present, delete the file.
- Repeat steps 3 to 5 for the remaining AUTORUN.INF files in other remaining removable drives.
- Close Search Results.
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PE_SALITY.RL. 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.
NOTES:
Mitigating this malware using your Trend Micro product is done doing the following steps:
- Ensure that product engines and patterns are all updated.
(Note: Make sure that Virus Clean-up Template uses pattern version 1284 or higher.)
- For enterprise products, enable the following modules to block malware from spreading:
- Real-time scan's Scan Network Drive
- Behavioral Monitoring
- WRS or Web Reputation Services
- DAC or Device Access Control
- If PE_SALITY.RL is detected in your system, immediately perform a Manual Scan or assign a Scheduled Scan in the infected system and then reboot system. This ensures that every malware infection has been removed.
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