This spyware is designed to steal system-related information and gather banking, social networking, email and instant messaging (IM) credentials. It is believed to be used in targeted attacks aimed at Middle East entities.
To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Spyware, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.
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.
It retrieves specific information from the affected system.
It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It terminates if the said processes exist. This is to ensure that it runs uninterrupted on the affected system.
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 drops the following non-malicious files:
- %User Temp%\~shw.tmp - log file
- %User Temp%\~gdl.tmp - log file
- %User Temp%\~mdk.tmp - log file
- %User Temp%\md.bak - log file
- %Windows%\system\Temp\s61cs3.dat - log file
- %Windows%\temp\~ZM6AD3.tmp - log file
- %User Temp%\ws1bin.dat - log file
- %Windows%\Fonts\pldnrfn.ttf - font file
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows or C:\WINNT.)
It adds the following mutexes to ensure that only one of its copies runs at any one time:
Autostart Technique
This spyware modifies the following registry entry(ies) to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CLSID\{CLSID}\
InProcServer32
(Default) = "%System%\wbem\wmihlp32.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is %system32%\wbem\wbemsvc.dll.)
Other System Modifications
This spyware adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
TimeStampForUI = "{data}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
ShutdownIntervalSnapshotUI = "{data}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
ShutdownInterval = "{data}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts
Palida Narrow (TrueType) = "pldnrfn.ttf"
Information Theft
This spyware retrieves the following information from the affected system:
- CMOS information
- BIOS information
- Computer name
- Domain account information
- Operating System Version
- Workstation information
- Available drives
- Driectories under %Program Files% folder
- IE version
- Environment variables
- Network adapter information
- Routing table
- Disk information
- Running Processes
- Available Microsoft SQL servers
- URL cache
- Available network shares
- Proxy configuration
(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)
Other Details
This spyware connects to the following URL(s) to check for an Internet connection:
- www.google.com
- www.update.windows.com
It connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.45.115
- {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.166.116
- {BLOCKED}mputeradvisor.com
- {BLOCKED}nction.org
- {BLOCKED}advisor.info
- {BLOCKED}7.com
- {BLOCKED}access.net
- {BLOCKED}ity.net
It checks for the presence of the following process(es):
- abcd.exe
- acs.exe
- adoronsfirewall.exe
- alertwall.exe
- ALMon.exe
- ALsvc.exe
- alupdate.exe
- AntiHook.exe
- app_firewall.exe
- apvxdwin.exe
- armorwall.exe
- as3pf.exe
- asr.exe
- aupdrun.exe
- authfw.exe
- avas.exe
- avcom.exe
- AVKProxy.exe
- avkservice.exe
- AVKTray.exe
- AVKWCtl.exe
- avkwctrl.exe
- avmgma.exe
- avp.exe
- avtask.exe
- aws.exe
- backgroundscanclient.exe
- bgctl.exe
- bgnt.exe
- blackd.exe
- blackice.exe
- blinksvc.exe
- bootsafe.exe
- bullguard.exe
- CavApp.exe
- cavasm.exe
- CavAUD.exe
- CavCons.exe
- CavEmSrv.exe
- Cavmr.exe
- CavMud.exe
- Cavoar.exe
- CavQ.exe
- CavSn.exe
- CavSub.exe
- CavUMAS.exe
- CavUserUpd.exe
- Cavvl.exe
- cdas17.exe
- cdas2.exe
- cdinstx.exe
- CEmRep.exe
- clamd.exe
- CMain.exe
- cmdagent.exe
- cmgrdian.exe
- configmgr.exe
- configuresav.exe
- cpd.exe
- csi-eui.exe
- CV.exe
- DCSUserProt.exe
- dfw.exe
- dlservice.exe
- dltray.exe
- dvpapi.exe
- emlproui.exe
- emlproxy.exe
- endtaskpro.exe
- espwatch.exe
- Ethereal.exe
- fameh32.exe
- fch32.exe
- fgui.exe
- filedeleter.exe
- filemon.exe
- firewall.exe
- firewall2004.exe
- firewallgui.exe
- fsar32.exe
- fsav32.exe
- fsdfwd.exe
- fsgk32.exe
- fsgk32st.exe
- fsguidll.exe
- fshdll32.exe
- fsm32.exe
- fsma32.exe
- fsmb32.exe
- fsorsp.exe
- fspc.exe
- fsqh.exe
- fsrt.exe
- fssm32.exe
- fsus.exe
- fwsrv.exe
- gateway.exe
- GDFirewallTray.exe
- GDFwSvc.exe
- GDScan.exe
- gsava.exe
- gssm32.exe
- hpf_.exe
- iface.exe
- InstLsp.exe
- invent.exe
- ipatrol.exe
- ipcserver.exe
- ipctray.exe
- kpf4gui.exe
- kpf4ss.exe
- licwiz.exe
- livehelp.exe
- lookout.exe
- lpfw.exe
- mpf.exe
- mpfcm.exe
- Netcap.exe
- Netguard Lite.exe
- netguardlite.exe
- Netmon.exe
- nstzerospywarelite.exe
- oasclnt.exe
- omnitray.exe
- OnAccessInstaller.exe
- onlinent.exe
- op_mon.exe
- opf.exe
- opfsvc.exe
- outpost.exe
- Packetizer.exe
- Packetyzer.exe
- pcipprev.exe
- pctav.exe
- pctavsvc.exe
- pcviper.exe
- persfw.exe
- pfft.exe
- pgaccount.exe
- prevxcsi.exe
- prifw.exe
- privatefirewall 3.exe
- privatefirewall3.exe
- procguard.exe
- procmon.exe
- protect.exe
- pxagent.exe
- rawshark.exe
- RDTask.exe
- rtt_crc_service.exe
- sab_wab.exe
- sagui.exe
- SAVAdminService.exe
- savcleanup.exe
- savcli.exe
- savmain.exe
- savprogress.exe
- SavService.exe
- scfmanager.exe
- scfservice.exe
- schedulerdaemon.exe
- sdcdevcon.exe
- sdcdevconIA.exe
- sdcdevconx.exe
- sdcservice.exe
- sdtrayapp.exe
- siteadv.exe
- sndsrvc.exe
- Sniffer.exe
- snsmcon.exe
- snsupd.exe
- SoftAct.exe
- sp_rsser.exe
- spfirewallsvc.exe
- sppfw.exe
- spybotsd.exe
- SpyHunter3.exe
- spywareterminatorshield.exe
- spywat~1.exe
- ssupdate.exe
- SUPERAntiSpyware.exe
- Tcpdump.exe
- terminet.exe
- Tethereal.exe
- THGuard.exe
- tppfdmn.exe
- tscutynt.exe
- tshark.exe
- tzpfw.exe
- umxagent.exe
- umxtray.exe
- updclient.exe
- UUpd.exe
- uwcdsvr.exe
- VCATCH.EXE
- vdtask.exe
- VSDesktop.exe
- vsmon.exe
- webwall.exe
- Windump.exe
- winroute.exe
- Wireshark.exe
- wwasher.exe
- xauth_service.exe
- xfilter.exe
- ywareterminatorshield.exe
- zanda.exe
- zapro.exe
- zerospywarele.exe
- zerospywarelite_installer.exe
- zlclient.exe
- zlh.exe
It terminates if the said processes exist. This is to ensure that it runs uninterrupted on the affected system.
NOTES:
This spyware uses the following components, all of which are detected as TSPY_GAUSS.A:
- %System%\devwiz.ocx
- %System%\dskapi.ocx
- %System%\lanhlp32.ocx
- %System%\mcdmn.ocx
- %System%\smdk.ocx
- %System%\wbem\wmihlp32.ocx
- %System%\wbem\wmiqry32.ocx
- %System%\windig.ocx
- %System%\winshell.ocx
It checks if it is loaded by LSASS.EXE. If it is, it proceeds with the installation. If not, it proceeds with its main routine.
It creates the following events:
- ShellHWStop
- Global\ShellHWDetectionEvent
It writes a random binary data in the following registry key that will be used to create the file pldnrfn.ttf:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
ShutdownInterval = "{random binary data }"
This spyware is capable of stealing the following information:
- User credentials related to online banking, social networking, email and instant messaging
- Browsing history
- Cookies and passwords
It installs a Firefox plugin detected as JS_GAUSS.A in order to aid in its information stealing routine.
This spyware drops the following components in removable drives:
- System32.dat - also detected as TSPY_GAUSS.A
- System32.bin - also detected as TSPY_GAUSS.A
- thumbs.db - log file
It also creates the following folders to removable drives:
- .Backup0{character}
- .Backup00{character}
It then drops the following autostart components which exploits CVE-2010-2568:
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 files dropped/downloaded by TSPY_GAUSS.A
Step 3
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.
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\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
- ShutdownIntervalSnapshotUI = {data}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
- ShutdownInterval = {data}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts
- Palida Narrow (TrueType) = pldnrfn.ttf
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, then press Enter.
- In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Reliability - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
TimeStampForUI = {data} - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ShutdownIntervalSnapshotUI = {data} - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ShutdownInterval = {data} - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Fonts - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Palida Narrow (TrueType) = pldnrfn.ttf - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Restore this modified 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\CLSID\{CLSID}\InProcServer32
- From: Default = %System%\wbem\wmihlp32.dll
To: Default = %System%\wbem\wbemsvc.dll
To restore the registry value this malware/grayware/spyware modified:
- Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT, then press Enter.
- In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>CLSID>{CLSID}>InProcServer32 - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
Default = %System%\wbem\wmihlp32.dll - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
Default = %System%\wbem\wbemsvc.dll - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
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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.
- {removable drive letter}:\.Backup0{character}
- {removable drive letter}:\.Backup00{character}
To delete malware/grayware folders:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the Named input box, type:
- {removable drive letter}:\.Backup0{character}
- {removable drive letter}:\.Backup00{character}
- 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.
- Repeat the said steps for all folders listed.
Step 7
Search and delete these files
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There may be some component 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%\~shw.tmp
- %User Temp%\~gdl.tmp
- %User Temp%\~mdk.tmp
- %User Temp%\md.bak
- %Windows%\system\Temp\s61cs3.dat
- %Windows%\temp\~ZM6AD3.tmp
- %User Temp%\ws1bin.dat
- %Windows%\Fonts\pldnrfn.ttf
- {removable drive letter}:\thumbs.db
To delete malware/grayware component files:
- Search for the following files:
- %User Temp%\~shw.tmp
- %User Temp%\~gdl.tmp
- %User Temp%\~mdk.tmp
- %User Temp%\md.bak
- %Windows%\system\Temp\s61cs3.dat
- %Windows%\temp\~ZM6AD3.tmp
- %User Temp%\ws1bin.dat
- %Windows%\Fonts\pldnrfn.ttf
- {removable drive letter}:\thumbs.db
Note: To do a search for the following files, right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running. For each file to be deleted, type its file name in the Named input box. In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter. - Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the file.
- Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TSPY_GAUSS.A. 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 9
Download and apply this security patch Refrain from using these products until the appropriate patches have been installed. Trend Micro advises users to download critical patches upon release by vendors.
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